The Empire of Golden York is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by HIM Emperor Adrian I with an even hand, and renowned for its daily referendums, state-planned economy, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, cheerful population of 12.41 billion Golden Yorkians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of St Alexandria. The average income tax rate is 98.3%.

The frighteningly efficient Golden Yorkian economy, worth a remarkable 2,456 trillion Yorkian Dollars 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 Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism and Book Publishing. Average income is an impressive 197,985 Yorkian Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Golden Yorkian police have to pay out of their own pockets for bulletproof vests, military equipment is being auctioned off to extend comatose centenarians' lives, retirement homes are often fitted with luxurious suites, and the government funds large training centres to turn Golden Lions into functioning members of society. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Golden York's national animal is the Golden Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is the Church of York.

Golden York is ranked 287,675^th in the world and 220^th in Thaecia for Most Primitive, scoring -521.49 on the Scary Big Number Scale.