The Democratic Republic of Neratica is a mammoth, genial nation, ruled by The Prime Minister with a fair hand, and notable for its ban on automobiles, daily referendums, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 6.448 billion Neraticans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Nertania. The average income tax rate is 98.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Neratican economy, worth a remarkable 1,499 trillion nerats a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Basket Weaving. Average income is an amazing 232,522 nerats, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.7 times as much as the poorest.

One can wake up in Neratica and have breakfast in Bigtopia, government negotiators never forget to say "pretty please" when begging for custody of its criminals, a sudden shout of "surprise!" does not herald a party for teachers, and criminals and college students are taking an interest in the government's new weed-killing program. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Neratica's national animal is the chicken-bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Neratica is ranked 260,208^th in the world and 14,777^th in Balder for Largest Black Market, with 133 billion Standard Monetary Units.