Location: Scandinavia

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Golden Halls of Runavik is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Hjalmar Brandr with a fair hand, and renowned for its hatred of cheese. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 3.927 billion are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whoever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, liberal, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Education, although the Environment and Social Equality are on the agenda. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tórshavn. The average income tax rate is 93%, and even higher for the wealthy. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Tourism.

The government seeks peaceful forum with terrorists, crowds of flag-burning protesters tend to accidentally become crowds of burning protesters, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, and radio shows frequently feature people denouncing religion. Crime is totally unknown. Runavik's national animal is the Fjörsvartnir, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Krona.

Runavik is ranked 89th in Scandinavia and 99,905th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -40 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and