The Empire of Laurendon is a colossal, safe nation, ruled by Chancellor Philippa Lawson with an even hand, and remarkable for its national health service, keen interest in outer space, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 7.673 billion Laurendonians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Healthcare, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Carsen. The average income tax rate is 50.8%.

The frighteningly efficient Laurendonian economy, worth a remarkable 1,447 trillion Laurons a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Retail, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 188,709 Laurons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.4 times as much as the poorest.

There's no representation without taxation, one-stop superstores divide and conquer family businesses, the government is washing its hands of alleged corruption, and the cruise missile launchers on the field hospital roof are purely deterrent in purpose. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Laurendon's national animal is the Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Christianity.

Laurendon is ranked 35,195^th in the world and 1,135^th in The North Pacific for Most Advanced Public Education, scoring 5,734.85 on the Edu-tellignce® Test Score.