The Republic of Starlight Aether is a massive, efficient nation, renowned for its state-planned economy, ritual sacrifices, and complete absence of social welfare. The cynical, devout population of 2.344 billion Starlight Aetherians 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 medium-sized, corrupt, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 44.6%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Starlight Aetherian economy, worth 248 trillion lotuses 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, Information Technology, Tourism, and Beef-Based Agriculture. 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 an impressive 105,808 lotuses, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Leader isn't a national brand, it turns out that trees grow on lotuses, Starlight Aetherian tourists are banned from many nations due to their tendency to randomly explode, and only toddlers and the elderly watch television before 23:00. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Starlight Aether's national animal is the moonlark, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Starlight Aether is ranked 107,990^th in the world and 969^th in eta for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 44.62 Effective Tax Rate.