The Laravelian Union State of Meriter is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, irreverence towards religion, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 1.519 billion Meriterians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The medium-sized, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Environment, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 36.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but sluggish Meriterian economy, worth 46.9 trillion kronor a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Door-to-door Insurance Sales, Cheese Exports, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 30,900 kronor, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Minority children spend hours bussing to schools miles away from home, the government is spending billions of taxpayer kronor to support "struggling" industries, children are brainwashed at a young age to accept "love and peace!" as a way of life, and the average cargo freighter spends more than half its service life undergoing safety inspections. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Meriter's national animal is the orca, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Meriter is ranked 121,829^th in the world and 31^st in Saint Helene for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 1,184.9 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.