Location: Ireland

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Republic of Eirean is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its punitive income tax rates. Its hard-nosed, intelligent population of 601 million enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Commerce, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Dublin. The average income tax rate is 73%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Tourism industry, followed by Beef-Based Agriculture and Door-to-door Insurance Sales.

Rupert Bear is considered to be the most risqué TV programme in Eirean, immigrants flood the job queues as discrimination in the workplace makes a staggering comeback, a National Academy regulates grammar and usage, and punitive tariffs protect local industry. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Eirean's national animal is the Spud, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Euro.

Eirean is ranked 7th in Ireland and 15,515th in the world for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 3 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and