Location: Lazarus

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Armed Republic of Old Derby is a colossal, socially progressive nation, ruled by Leader with a fair hand, and remarkable for its anti-smoking policies. Its hard-nosed, intelligent population of 5.688 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.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Old Derby City. The average income tax rate is 21%, but much higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Information Technology industries.

Organ donation is compulsory, a punitive tax has been placed on harmful emissions, the art of conversation has been rediscovered, and photographers can be found hiding behind the curtains in Leader 's bedroom. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Old Derby's national animal is the Fox, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the Black Ice.

Old Derby is ranked 2,035th in Lazarus and 69,047th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -14 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

Preview

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and