Location: Lazarus

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Empire of Veralien is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by Veralien with an even hand, and notable for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 3.771 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 Commerce, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Pietrzykowice. The average income tax rate is 67%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Tourism industry, followed by Gambling and Information Technology.

Hunters have been known to lose limbs while attempting to 'play tag' with their prey, politicians have to be granted day-release from prison to speak on bills, drug distribution is tightly controlled by the government, and citizens are regularly arrested in queues for 'loitering'. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Veralien's national animal is the lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the chicken.

Veralien is ranked 3,214th in Lazarus and 95,678th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -27 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and