Location: the West Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The United State of Marlica is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Marlin Payne with a fair hand, and notable for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 1.075 billion enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass -- juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Patricia Ann City. The average income tax rate is 37%, but much higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Healthcare funding has been cut, the populace harbors a fierce hatred of the metric system, marketing departments of corporate giants compete to sponsor little league teams, and Members of Parliament are often found living in cardboard boxes. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Marlica's national animal is the Marlor, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Marlin.

Marlica is ranked 2,178th in the West Pacific and 46,610th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -12 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and