Economy and Trade

Compared to other countries around the globe, Thembria possesses a terribly poor economic system. Managed and regulated closely by the government, Thembria's economy suffers from problems of all kinds, most of them as a result of the Thembrians' own convoluted approach to economic dealings.

Another Thembrian village store leaves its customers out in the cold.

Like so many things in the frozen nation, Thembria's economy is run almost entirely by the Thembrian government. A direct opposite to the Usland free enterprise system, the Thembrian economy relies on state intervention to solve economic problems and deal with crises. Various bureaucratic laws and tariffs intended to vitalize the economy instead swing the balance of economic power over to the Thembrian bureaucracy. As a result of the government's meddling, the Thembrian economy has deteriorated significantly since the Great War, though it still manages to maintain some measure of stability.

	The Thembrian Gruel Reserve.

Due to the awful state of the economy, Thembrian industry suffers regularly from a chaotic series of supply shortages and surpluses. Many Thembrian industries keep running long past the point at which they should have normally shut down — spurred on by repeated bureaucratic prodding and government-induced "demand" for their products — resulting in surpluses of unused goods. Conversely, those businesses lacking government support usually wither and die, often creating massive supply shortages. Surpluses are easier for the Thembrian state to manage as they usually "acquire" the surplus goods and sell them wholesale to the commoners.

Thembrian military plants are less susceptible to shortages than their civilian counterparts. Since peacetime conditions have removed much of the incentive to produce military supplies, several weapons industries remain shut down since the end of the Great War, including Thembria's bomb factories. Essential military products such as bullets and gunpowder are still produced in large quantities and distributed freely to all areas of the Glorious People's Army and Air Force.

Considering capitalism a major threat to their own national economy, the Thembrian government has restricted trade with foreign parties, particularly the country of Usland. Only the Thembrian government can authorize trade activity with foreigners — that is, after the applicant files the necessary papers. Practically all of Thembria's limited economic contact with the outside world is conducted by the Thembrian state. Unfortunately, Thembrian officials perceive trade relations between Thembria and Usland as a "power struggle," causing them to use whatever methods are necessary to keep their nation in the lead. This results in some very bizarre economic strategies, including the resale of refurbished Cape Suzette goods to the seller for only half the original price!