The Commonwealth of Esterwood is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Plutarch Thompson Sr with a fair hand, and notable for its daily referendums, pith helmet sales, and unlimited-speed roads. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.788 billion Esterwoodians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Wintermouth. The average income tax rate is 65.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Esterwoodian economy, worth 228 trillion Foors a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Furniture Restoration, and Automobile Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 127,792 Foors, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The construction of massive skyscrapers seems to be the result of Esterwood's mid-life crisis, turning eighteen is often referred to as the 'Age of Aquarius', replacement organs are grown in vats, and fire stations and hospitals can't deploy emergency vehicles because badly parked cars block them in. Crime is totally unknown. Esterwood's national animal is the White Rhinoceros, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Esterwood is ranked 22,439^th in the world and 643^rd in the South Pacific for Most Advanced Public Education, scoring 6,684.68 on the Edu-tellignce® Test Score.