Location: Europe

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Fiefdom of Basildon is a huge, safe nation, ruled by Leader with an even hand, and renowned for its compulsory military service. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 896 million have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Equality, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Moyet. The average income tax rate is 49%, but much higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Tourism and Information Technology.

The airship business has been driven out of the country by strict regulations and high fines, Saturday morning cartoons feature full frontal nudity, citizens are enjoying a recent large cut in taxes, and small businesses are gobbled up almost daily by corporate giants. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown. Basildon's national animal is the Albatross, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Kobol.

Basildon is ranked 414th in Europe and 92,083rd in the world for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -4 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and