The Empire of Laurendon is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Chancellor Philippa Lawson with a fair hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls, frequent executions, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 3.68 billion Laurendonians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, corrupt, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Carsen. The average income tax rate is 39.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Laurendonian economy, worth 670 trillion Laurons a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Retail, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. Average income is an impressive 182,177 Laurons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.6 times as much as the poorest.

The countryside is shrouded by wind farms, every day has been a surprise since weather reporters turned to consulting ancient totems for their seven-day forecasts, weird kids who eat bugs are breaking the law, and atheistic refugees haven't got a prayer of being granted asylum. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. 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 31,461^st in the world and 1,373^rd in The North Pacific for Most Advanced Public Education, scoring 5,165.8 on the Edu-tellignce® Test Score.