Location: Europe

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Empire of Silberia is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Emperor Arku with an even hand, and notable for its punitive income tax rates. Its compassionate, hard-working population of 3.862 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, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Social Welfare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Nurmekund. The average income tax rate is 71%, and even 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.

Politicians accepting drinks in bars are executed for taking bribes, Saturday morning cartoons feature full frontal nudity, young children are regularly seen wagering pocket money at blackjack tables, and children have only the most basic of education. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Silberia's national animal is the Timber Wolf, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Unitarian Universalism, and its currency is the Kroon.

Silberia is ranked 218th in Europe and 67,317th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -14 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

Preview

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and