The Allied States of Elucubria is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its smutty television, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic population of 247 million Elucubrians are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Environment. The average income tax rate is 78.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Elucubrian economy, worth 18.3 trillion auns 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 led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Basket Weaving. Average income is 73,913 auns, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The government tries to improve relations with hostile countries by sending gift baskets, programmes of questionable content are shown at peak-hours, the poor are often seen pale and dizzy after selling their blood to make ends meet, and anti-government political posters adorn every building like wallpaper. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Elucubria's national animal is the Remarque's myna, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Elucubria is ranked 22,581^st in the world and 117^th in Refugia for Most Advanced Public Education, scoring 7,548.04 on the Edu-tellignce® Test Score.