The Republic of Biaten is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Chancellor Siegel with a fair hand, and remarkable for its national health service, anti-smoking policies, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 3.208 billion Biatenians 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 Industry, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Hachen. The average income tax rate is 90.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Biatenian economy, worth 509 trillion Thalers a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 158,719 Thalers, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Landless farmers wander forlornly in the government's many national parks, prominent cultural symbols are featured on the backs of cereal boxes, the nation's only university is the School of Hard Knocks, and running away is an essential part of the elite forces' hand-to-hand training. Crime is totally unknown. Biaten's national animal is the Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Biaten is ranked 155,642^nd in the world and 127^th in The Western Isles for Largest Black Market, with 114 billion Standard Monetary Units.