The State of Markdale is a gargantuan, cultured nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, absence of drug laws, and spontaneously combusting cars. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 39.384 billion Markdaleans enjoy some of the most opulent lifestyles in the region, unless they are unemployed or working-class, in which case they are variously starving to death or crippled by easily preventable diseases.

The relatively small, liberal, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Capital Heights. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 14.1%.

The thriving Markdalean economy, worth a remarkable 1,845 trillion betales a year, is quite specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Pizza Delivery, and Soda Sales. Average income is 46,854 betales, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 318,551 per year while the poor average 2,517, a ratio of 126 to 1.

The latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, the tenet of free speech is held dear, deers are considered a delicacy, and Markdale has designated Capital Heights as its capital city. Crime is a serious problem. Markdale's national animal is the deer, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Markdale is ranked 223,598^th in the world and 1^st in Crimson Task Force for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -4.24 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.