The Federation of Carates is a huge, genial nation, renowned for its museums and concert halls, free-roaming dinosaurs, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 682 million Caratesians 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 medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Pacifico. The average income tax rate is 47.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Caratesian economy, worth 68.2 trillion Caratesian Dollars a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is 99,960 Caratesian Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Terrorists are on a first name basis with the officials that stamp their passports, strict term limits have been applied to all elected offices, the fate of the world literally rests on Leader's fingers, and parents dread their examinations more than their children. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Carates's national animal is the Honeybee, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Carates is ranked 90,033^rd in the world and 2,661^st in The East Pacific for Highest Wealthy Incomes, with 134,826 Standard Monetary Units.