I am playing on difficulty Hard, played Verne and now Degakheion. Everytime I get problems with money. I try investing in buildings that raise my income. Moneylender shops cost around 1000 Crowns; income is +5 per year, hence 0.42 per month in income. That would be 35 years until it has amortized, until it becomes profitable.
In the ledger I can see that my rivals and neighbors have 4 crowns more in income. Yet, they have 3 cavalry (almost 4 crowns!), 2 carracks and 1 to 2 moneylender shops. Those 3x1.8 crowns + 2x2 crowns (unsure) combined do 9.4 crowns. They should be heavily in debts.
And I have no other idea except for taking any debts, if I want to keep up with my rivals. Yet again! Two debts are like (unless by merchant guilds, which I cannot double, though) almost 1 crown per month outcome. So, by sponsoring moneylender shops, interests after taking a loan of 1000 crowns would be as high as 3 crowns (-3 outcome). HOW did my rivals spend on cavalries, carracks and moneylender shops?! it would become negative. It is irritating. And! They do not do more wars than me; if war reparations is the decisive income, which is NOT (to me, at least).

Maybe I should try again on difficulty Normal.
Or how are your impressions? I am perplexed that economy doesn't seem to be an issue here ...