The Principality of Ross bay is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its irreverence towards religion. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 10.68 billion Ross bayians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The relatively small, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 18.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The large but inefficient Ross bayian economy, worth 430 trillion NSDS a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Automobile Manufacturing, Retail, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 40,290 NSDS, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.5 times as much as the poorest.

The government recently relinquished its monopoly on the mail service, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, organ donation rates are among the lowest in the region, and a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway. Crime is almost non-existent, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ross bay's national animal is the badger, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ross bay is ranked 126,864^th in the world and 4^th in Wishtonia for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 2,389.4 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.