Hello, I saw a recent post of yours on Twitter regarding the city of Zaofu in LOK. The city was never really explored in depth outside of Suyin's house, and so there are still questions about how it functions. Have you had any thoughts about what Zaofu's economy could be based on (what they manufacture/trade)?
OP YOU JUST MADE MY DAY because this is the first time someone's actually asked me my thoughts on something and I'm...!!! ;v; Anyway, YES, I do have Some Thoughts™️ about Zaofu because I've been frustrated since 2014 over the show's reluctance to show us anything happening there (and it's arguably the best-designed, most interesting location in the whole gd show, even more than Republic City). My dream LOK spinoff comic is a slice of life story JUST about the Beifong Kids and all the various hijinks that happen in Zaofu. I think about it a lot.
Just an FYI I do not have a background in economics, but Bryke clearly didn't either, so fuck it. I also haven't written an academic paper/essay in maybe ten years, so...this ain't gonna look pretty.
I tried my best to make a very helpful visual of what I've been thinking all the "lotuses" that make up Zaofu contain. The only ones we've seen/are confirmed are the City Center (the Big Lotus), the Beifong Estate and the Airport/airship docks. I made some educated guesses on what the other three lotuses are:
Zaofu is officially described as an autonomous city state of the Earth Kingdom, but it is really just a glorified gated community with iron-clad HOA bylaws (no Satomobiles!) and a STRICTLY ENFORCED, gender-neutral dress code that dissolves the differences between social classes (although social classes still very much exist).
The citizens of Zaofu are loyal only to "The Metal Clan" (which is what their collective whole is called—lol sounds a little cult-like to me) and their tax money seems to go right back into the upkeep of the city, not to the capitol in Ba Sing Se. HOW they've managed to get by all these years, unseen, not paying taxes directly to Earth Queen has always bugged me; but that's a discussion for another day...
It's not discussed ever, but I always assumed citizenship in Zaofu is open to people of all nations based on skillset, talent, and merit; although you either have to be invited to live in Zaofu (like in the case of Kuvira and Varrick) or you need to apply to live there (and money does talk). It seems to be open to people of all nationalities because Varrick was there (water tribe) and I'm pretty sure some of Suyin's guards were fire benders.
Crime seems to be non-existent (I'm sure one strike will get you kicked out of the city); but that doesn't stop Zaofu from having a HUGE police / guard presence. I attribute that more to Suyin's paranoia than anything.
Oh gosh I'm sorry, I rambled and got a little off-topic. Anyway. To answer you question: I think Zaofu's economy is run mostly by three things: universities, trade of their proprietary inventions and services (mostly engineering and medicine), and tourism.
The tentpole what really makes Zaofu self-sufficient/profitable is a very elite university system that includes a prestigious College of Engineering, a College of Architecture, a School of Art and Design, and a Medical University, just to name a few big ones (there's probably more). These are more than likely housed entirely in the skyscrapers in the downtown city center. It's basically a college town and most of the schools there have proprietary knowledge and skills that you can't learn anywhere else in the world. It's a very appealing place for folks that want a more rigorous or progressive/experimental higher education and it's literally the only place with these opportunities.
Tuition and living costs to attend these schools probably cost a pretty penny, but they're probably competitive against the schools in, say, the Upper Ring in Ba Sing Se? For folks that can't afford the (probably) high cost of attending one of these schools, Zaofu offers a fellowship that'll cover the full cost of tuition but only if you sign on to stay and work in the city x-amount of years (let's say 5-10) after graduating. Oftentimes people that received the fellowship will opt to stay permanently. Zaofu's whole slogan is ~reach your highest potential~ and it's great for their branding to keep all these great minds and talented people in the city as long as they can.
The services and products theses schools create are probably one of their biggest exports and make up most of the city’s actual GDP. Like, for example, I've always imagined the theoretical Zaofu College of Design was basically ran like the Bauhaus, where there was an emphasis on creating art that was both functional in everyday life and also easy to mass produce. The Zaofu Style is totally thing and bougie people all over the world are clamoring for funky-ass Zaofu style furniture, appliances, clothing, artwork. (PS: I'm sure Huan attended the art school there but he was on the fine arts track and never made anything practical in his life).
Same goes for their College of Engineering; I'm sure the stuff they're coming up with is at least 5-ish years ahead than whatever is being made in Republic City and DECADES more advanced than the rest of the world. The stuff coming out of there is highly sought after.
And then, of course, we have tourism being a big draw for the city because...I mean...look at it? I'd LOVE to spend a week there, holy shit?? It's a futuristic Art Deco city full of choo-choos and fine dining! It's beautifully situated in a mountain valley flanked by an evergreen forest and the views from your hotel room are *chef's kiss*! I'm sure it's a well-known destination and lots of people dream of visiting there, either for business of pleasure. (Just...ignore the fact that Bolin AND Korra had never heard of Zaofu before Book 3. Everyone else surely knew about it)
This is not important AT ALL but: Suyin and Kuvira were working on a dance recital that, I assume, was going to be a major show eventually? I joked in the past about Suyin's dance group being the Avatar-universe's equivalent of Shen Yun, with the same aggressive worldwide advertising campaign and everything. I'm sure Zaofu's one of the few places in the Earth Kingdom that has a decent entertainment district, with cinemas and stage shows and everything. So, even if you don't live in Zaofu, it's probably the closest place for thousands of miles that has these things. I'm sure out-of-towners made quick visits into town just to catch a mover or go shopping. Or maybe to see the show with that gd pretty dancing lady in the traditional Earth Kingdom gown (Kuvira) that's on all the posters and billboards plastered around the Earth Kingdom, even in the Si Wong Desert.
Anyway, I know this was a messy response, but I hope that answered your question!! Thanks for asking!! 🥹
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