The Republic of Mestov is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Harlow Stone with a fair hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, daily referendums, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.24 billion Mestovians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Valence. The average income tax rate is 77.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Mestovian economy, worth 168 trillion Vineroes a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Trout Farming. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 135,727 Vineroes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.5 times as much as the poorest.

People accuse the government of being in bed with Big Safety, Harlow Stone's luxurious new home has been designated as a protected cultural heritage site, the MBI Channel Tunnel project is plagued by delays, and sniffer dogs check train passengers for body odour. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mestov's national animal is the Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Mestov is ranked 113,518^th in the world and 4,553^rd in The East Pacific for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 1,313.5 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.