Location: Europe

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Grand Duchy of Zillern-Zollern is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by the Granduca di Zoll-Tirolo with an even hand, and remarkable for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 3.479 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 Law & Order, Defence, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zill di Val di Zoll. The average income tax rate is 45%. A healthy private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Furniture Restoration and Uranium Mining.

Roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews, heavy industry must go to expensive lengths to dispose of waste, the government encourages conflict abroad to increase arms sales, and a typical fast food menu item could serve a small army. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zillern-Zollern's national animal is the Alpine Swift, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is unquestionably unusual, and its currency is the mercury droplet.

Zillern-Zollern is ranked 264th in Europe and 76,317th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -16 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and