The Empire of North Astera is a huge, orderly nation, remarkable for its zero percent divorce rate, restrictive gun laws, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 851 million North Asterans are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The large, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. The average income tax rate is 43.4%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but sluggish North Asteran economy, worth 17.9 trillion dollars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing, Uranium Mining, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Tourism. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 21,040 dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The institution of marriage is held sacred and strictly enforced, agriculture is heavily subsidized by the government, parents must choose their children's names from a government-mandated master list, and doctors prescribe medicines but they rarely dispense hope or compassion. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. North Astera's national animal is the cow, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

North Astera is ranked 237,098^th in the world and 6^th in The Great Power for Nicest Citizens, with 8.23 average smiles per day.