Not able to build lvl3 corps @ lvl3

I'm new so I could just be retarded.

I hit game lvl3 a couple of game months ago. I just was browsing to see what new corps I might want to build next and noticed the corps that require lvl3 are still blacked out to me.

Anyone know why that would be?

I am a premium member if that matters.

Sorry. I guess I'm retarded.lol. Just realized I dropped back down to lvl1. I guess taking a slave country drops your lvl.

Yes all your indexes needed for levels is averaged across your empire. So if you have the 1T needed for lvl 3 and you take another nation and spend the money in the new nation to fix the damages you caused and build roads schools etc. That nations money is averaged with yours around the beginning of each month. The average needs to meet the level requirements.