The Republic of New Asteria is a very large, cultured nation, renowned for its smutty television, compulsory military service, and unlimited-speed roads. The compassionate, democratic, devout population of 222 million New Asterians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 52.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The New Asterian economy, worth 12.5 trillion Asters a year, is quite specialized and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Trout Farming, and Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 56,378 Asters, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Private pharmacies close down as medicinal drugs are given away freely by the government, prime real estate is devoted to wind farms and solar energy generators, religious organizations are being forced to leave the country or pay income taxes like everybody else, and pieces of iron pyrite are believed to be worth their weight in gold. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. New Asteria's national animal is the Star Fox, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

New Asteria is ranked 83,288^th in the world and 1,032^nd in the South Pacific for Highest Poor Incomes, with 36,526.02 Standard Monetary Units.