Saga Might finances have helped kill the Empire?

While we don't know for sure, it's probably a safe bet that many Imperial projects, especially the Death Stars, were not easy on the government budget. This might not have been much of a problem while the Empire held a political monopoly over the galaxy, as the Emperor could simply take what he could not tax or borrow. After Endor, however, I imagine that the Imperial budget might well have been in shambles. With a decreasing tax base and and various sectors of the economy being seized by various factions for their own private gain, various financial institutions might have shied away from doing business with the Empire, as the Empire could no longer pay back its loans nor make use of any effective strong arm tactics to force investment. The lack of investment would have crippled the Imperial economy, leading most likely to a decaying standard of living which would have brought on even more discontent and uprising, which the Empire could not afford in lieu of the Rebellion's advancements. Breakaway warlord fiefdoms were most likely extraction economies with corrupt, medieval-style tax codes that probably stagnated over time. Political instability within the Empire would have further damaged the economy, with decreased investment coupled with wrecked infrastructure. A poorer economy would have meant less money to pay stormtroopers and build Star Destroyers, leaving the shrinking Empire with less and less of an ability to fight off the Republic.

 

I concur. Already financing the first Death Star must have considerably stressed the budget of the Empire.

I'd go as far to speculate that the Death Star would not have only been used to destroy planets being (suspected to be) sympathetic to the cause of the Alliance. I'm confident it would have also been used to punish planets that didn't meet their quota in terms of paying their taxes.

Of course, after the destruction of Alderaan, the cat was out of the bag and I'm certain that Imperial member worlds had a good idea that they'd be financing an instrument designed to enslave their populations even further.

And I think there is a clear indication in ROJ that the budget of the Empire was in dire straits: Moff Jerjerrod complained to Vader that he needed more men to finish the second Death Star on schedule. Apparently the result of severe budget cuts.

 

Maybe they should have considered taxation of outlying trade routes. Cuz that always leads to interesting stories.

 

Maybe over burdening taxation of trade routes is one of the reasons that contributed to the rise of the rebellion.

 

In the deleted Biggs scenes, Biggs says, "What good is all your uncle's work if it's taken over by the Empire? You know they're starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems. It won't be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire."

 

Well, according to the (now gone, bro) E.U., financial problems certainly didn't help Darth Vader.