Location: Lazarus

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Principality of Philon is a massive, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space. Its hard-nosed, intelligent population of 3.13 billion 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 the Environment, Law & Order, and Commerce. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Philonia. The average income tax rate is 33%, but much higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Book Publishing industry.

The government has cut taxes in the face of widespread tax evasion, unemployment rates have skyrocketed as businesses abandon the country in search of cheap labour, the government has declined to declare any particular religion as its 'official' one, and a survey of the nation's rivers and children has shown that pesticide levels are at an all-time regional high. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is moderate. Philon's national animal is the zorax, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the dollop.

Philon is ranked 3,211th in Lazarus and 95,659th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -27 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

Preview

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and