I have read about country-specific armed forces and I thought about the economy.
http://ufoai.ninex.info/forum/index.php?topic=2665.0I think that some relation between the countries and PHALANX in the ways of trading would be nice.
I am not talking about the general sponsorship but something more like a marketplace.
The most audacious idea is that any purchase is made on one of the dominating world markets. You would be taken there by clicking the town in the Geoscape where the big exchange takes place or also from the base by selecting the market menu.
Therefore:
- Asia and Oceania would have their Asia-Oceania Stockmarket situated in Tokyo,
- North and South America would have their Inca Market in South America.
- Europe and Africa would have their own markets in Berlin and Cairo.
By clicking the towns you would enter the market and there, the prices would be dependent on the current local trends in firearms, alien specimens and technology, phalanx productions etc.
You could buy the product for a particular base and pay the transportation costs depending on the distance, taxes, etc.
For example: Asia would disallow trading alien specimens and Cairo would set up a large tax on conventional weapons.
The prices would also change depending on the amount of the stuff sold and bought on the market, and also on the current demand, and for example on the attitude of the particular countries/blocks. Some things could be even illegal. Trading them would give you a nice profit, but cost reputation (and overall funding), or even temporary embargo.
If any of the countries belonging to the economy block was dissatisfied with PHALANX, then the market would be even closed totally for PHALANX. And , as a result, other countries from the same block would like you less because you wouldn't be able to trade with them.
Moreover, if for example the aliens infiltrate the countries because you do not help them in the missions on their territory, or if you trade with two countries which are at war with each other, then your deeds on the market could even decide on the political attitude towards you.
For example countries which receive advanced tech like you more and give you better prices and more sponsorship, and countries which are at war with the countries you trade, like you less and want you to pay more:)
Going a step further, the countries with which you trade equip their militia with the weapons you sell them
You could participate in embargos or by breaking the embargo gain some super tech, like biological or chemical weapons, but it would cost you exclusion from the other markets
The news on the current political situation and embargos would be sent to you by e-mail and additionally broadcasted in some news TV.
From time to time there could be some mission to defend the market HQ from aliens, which would be very prestigeous.