The Tasks of an Economic Society

According to Heilbroner the tasks of an economic society are (1) to organize a system that will assure the production of enough goods and services for survival and (2) to create distribution of the products so more production can occur. I am trying to keep these tasks in mind while I am creating and running my civilization. I am following the first task of assuring the production of goods and services by locating my cities near resources and on or near rivers and coastlines, creating many farms, cottages, lumber mills, mines, watermills, workshops, and plantations. I also and creating many workers and settlers to work in these areas and make the products of goods and food. I am following the second task of creating distribution for my products to be able to make more by building many roads, boats, and trading networks. This time I am also using my manual to help out. This should aid me in making the right decisions for success in my civilization. By following Heilbroner's as well as Sid Meier's manual's advice I think I should do pretty good in this game this go around.
In the real world it is important for societies to follow the same two tasks as mentioned above. These are the basics for survival and if a population is unable to meet these minimum requirements then they will not last very long. This was explained by Richard Diamond, when he talks of the people of New Guinea. They are not able to produce enough food to distribute it there for there was no surplus and growth of the population. The population only did was barley enough to survive. This population was a living society but far from an economic society.