
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,651
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Organized Crime
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1974

1977
Rules assistance for Poleconomy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Poleconomy is a board game released in 1977 for 2–6 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bruce Hatherley and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Trading, and Roll / Spin and Move.
The game reflects the way Government, finance and industry interact when private enterprise operates within a system of parliamentary democracy. Players try to become both tycoons and politicians to gain both political and financial power. As a tycoon the players buy and sell UK corporations and brand products, invest in insurance, buy bonds, and bid takeovers. They face inflation and commercial disaster. Profits are taxed by the Government. As a politician and member of Parliament, they try to move from Opposition to member of Government, and then Prime Minister through the election process. Decisions as Prime Minister will affect the financial position of all on the board! The Canadian edition is published by Whitman Golden Ltd., Cambridge (On), circa 1970-something. Re-published in 1983. The Australian edition is published by John Sands. The New Zealand version was published by World Games Ltd and followed the Australian publication.
Poleconomy supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Poleconomy is 180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Poleconomy for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Poleconomy has a complexity rating of 2.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Poleconomy belongs to these categories: Economic and Political. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Trading, and Roll / Spin and Move. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Poleconomy are: Bruce Hatherley. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Poleconomy as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.