The Republic of Astereea is a small, safe nation, renowned for its ban on automobiles, compulsory military service, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic population of 29 million Astereeans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 33.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Astereean economy, worth 1.44 trillion styxes a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Door-to-door Insurance Sales, and Information Technology. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 49,685 styxes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Children who drop their ice cream are fined for littering, the economy is green and the air is black, prolonged government investigations are a common revenge tactic among spurned significant others, and the acceptance of acupuncture and other alternative therapies has needled the scientific community. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Astereea's national animal is the raven, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Astereea is ranked 325,655^th in the world and 9^th in Clio for Largest Black Market, with 1.00 billion Standard Monetary Units.