The State of Xest is a gargantuan, efficient nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape and complete lack of public education. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 31.848 billion Xestians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The minute, liberal government, or what there is of one, prioritizes Industry, with Welfare also on the agenda, while Spirituality and Social Policy are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Capital Heights. The average income tax rate is 5.7%.

The very strong Xestian economy, worth a remarkable 1,523 trillion betales a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Woodchip Exports, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is 47,832 betales, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.7 times as much as the poorest.

Voting is voluntary, X-Files ratings have hit an all-time low, students are known to arrive at school in their pyjamas, and Xest has designated Capital Heights as its capital city. Crime, especially youth-related, is a serious problem, probably because of the absence of a police force. Xest's national animal is the deer, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Xest is ranked 43,887^th in the world and 108^th in State for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 5,470.45 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.