Location: Unified Realm

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Corporate Sanctuary of Merkonia is a colossal, cultured nation, renowned for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 5.951 billion live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, liberal, pro-business individuals juggles the competing demands of Defence, Commerce, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merkingrad. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing industries.

Merkonia-made cars tend to catch fire in people's driveways, businesses have become paranoid as waves of lawsuits sweep the nation, the public health bureaucracy is wrapped in miles of red tape, and violently opinionated speakers can be heard preaching their hateful views on every street corner. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Merkonia's national animal is the Bison, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Credit.

Merkonia is ranked 1st in Unified Realm and 1,857th in the world for Largest Trout Fishing Sector, scoring 8 on the Nemo Depletion Efficiency Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and