Did you ever were too optimistic in your unit production rate and be like in a shortage of ressources , stucked at some point in your growth ? By now, when you have 0 ressources = 0 unit production. It could be a short-term problem. Your investissment was too big and your growth is penalized at some point. ___________________ Now, one can push the idea further : When one have 0 ressources, one should be able to produce a unit but it would cost more $$$ to produce it. And it would cost more and more $$$ to produce a unit , the more you are in debt. Exemple of the state of the portofolio : Food : -2000 , Wood : -3000 . A spearman would cost : 70 food and 80 wood Food : -200 , Wood : -100 . A spearman would cost : 52 food and 51 wood The extra $$$ you have to pay for the unit represents the interests you have to pay depending the health of your capital . The more you are in debt, the more you have to pay extra cost. This can be another good strategy to win .. being in debt , over-grow .. but.. putting your game at risk if your enemy harass you in a way you are not able to make the ressources-gathering following at the right rate the unit-production... your inner strategy will turn against you and could lead you in a true eco recession