"Collapsing" was too kind a word for my economy; I have already scrapped almost anything of value, and will be abandoning as many systems as I can afford to prevent them from falling into enemy's hands.
The game in question is NGC4 *Waves at Roanon*, where I am in an annoying war with the most powerful Empire around. Since I am currently alone, and much weaker than the other side, I am more or less on a suicidal course where the only point is to deal as much damage as possible, especially to happiness. But I cannot even hope to do that much because of enemy troop transports, and so have to play scorched earth as much as possible. Besides, riotings are very near, so I cannot even expect to keep my own production for too long.
All construction has come to a standstill, so I cannot use this method to get more minerals. I have lost my only Resource Converter, and had few organics/radioactives to convert. I still have some mineral storage, but most of these will be destroyed in the turn to come as well, so betting on "storage is checked *after* income" is more or less the only solution. The other possibility is to scrap my whole fleet, but somehow that prospect does not appeal to me.
(It will be destroyed in battle quickly enough, given the weakness of the said fleet)
In other words, I am more or less in the same situation as an Ashen Empire Ermor who would have to pay upkeep for my troops, after I have alchemised all my gems; asking an ally would virtually be the only way of paying the troops. And just the same, using my destructive dominion (eg abandoning planets in SEIV, and assorted attacks) is the main weapon I can still use on my own.