The Republic of Tharlect is a huge, safe nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, national health service, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, hard-working, devout population of 525 million Tharlectics have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Administration, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Sapphire City. The average income tax rate is 54.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Tharlectic economy, worth 39.8 trillion Yarons a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Furniture Restoration, and Information Technology. Average income is 75,861 Yarons, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Weapons are only sold to foreign governments that are legitimate enough to not bounce the cheque, skateboarding is considered a form of diplomacy, advertisers are struggling to make water sound cool to a twitchy public, and acute politicians deride opposition members for being obtuse. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Tharlect's national animal is the Arctic Fox, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Tharlect is ranked 262,304^th in the world and 5,504^th in The North Pacific for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring -8.23 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.