Location: Solar Union

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Commonwealth of The Asteroid Ceres is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its complete lack of public education. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 3.336 billion are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded individuals juggles the competing demands of Commerce, Healthcare, and the Environment. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ceres City. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Basket Weaving, Retail, and Tourism industries.

Citizens must pay to enjoy The Asteroid Ceres's pristine beaches, major cities are suffering under water rationing, minority children spend hours bussing to schools miles away from home, and the richest citizens live in sheltered private citadels. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, probably because of the country's utter lack of prisons. The Asteroid Ceres's national animal is the rock mite, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Gold Gram.

The Asteroid Ceres is ranked 38th in Solar Union and 123,272nd in the world for Healthiest Citizens, with -4 Standard Bananas Ingested per capita per day.

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and