The Democratic Republic of Periclea is a mid-sized, genial nation, renowned for its state-planned economy, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic, devout population of 85 million Pericleans enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Spirituality, and Education. The average income tax rate is 71.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The imploded Periclean economy, worth 607 billion periclean lire a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is mostly made up of the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Pizza Delivery, Cheese Exports, and Tourism. Average income is 7,148 periclean lire, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

It turns out that you actually can put a price on intangible cultural heritage, high-income earners pay a 100% tax rate, Periclean scientists are mixing chewing tobacco with bacon flavouring in an attempt to craft the perfect male snack, and lawyers spend as much time preparing their make-up as they do their briefs. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Periclea's national animal is the phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Periclea is ranked 254,007^th in the world and 783^rd in The Leftist Assembly for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 516.03 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.