The normal objective (for winning) in the multiplayer competitive mode apparently is to become President, that is attain level 5 in all four areas: Ag/BioChem/Engineering/Mining. IMHO, it is pretty easy to attain level 5 in Ag and BioChem, and fairly easy in Engineering; while for me at least, mining takes more time, is hazardous, and seems to be the only area where there is competition for resources.
Once level 5 is attained in Ag and BioChem, there doesn't seem to be any incentive to maintaining and maximizing those resources (in the Presidential-win mode). In the pursuit for the Presidency, once Ag and BioChem are at 5, the obvious strategy would be to concentrate on the other two areas, even if this resulted in crop fields that have long since gone to seed and fish that would have died of old age -- or of fields not replanted or ponds not restocked. To me, there is something unsatisfying about this -- and not of the real world. One counter to this, would be for a certain level of ongoing production be required to maintain those 5 ratings.
Players also accumulate points, I suppose based on some formula (unknown to me) of overall accomplishments and/or of generated resources (?). If total generated resources (and accumulated bank credits) were among the factors that determined point values, it would require continued effort in all 4 areas to maintain ones position in the relative point standings.
What I am suggesting is: Players have up-front OPTIONS as to what constitutes victory: The race to the Presidency; first one to "x" number of points; highest number of points after "Y" minutes of game time. This would allow different strokes for different folks.