The Free Land of Vaaldam is a mid-sized, genial nation, notable for its frequent executions, compulsory military service, and digital currency. The hard-working population of 68 million Vaaldamians are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The tiny, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Administration, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 8.7%.

The thriving Vaaldamian economy, worth 5.82 trillion Florins a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Automobile Manufacturing, Cheese Exports, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is 85,540 Florins, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 261,820 per year while the poor average 21,643, a ratio of 12.1 to 1.

The government has been criticized for giving away Vaaldam's territory to anyone who claims it, bridge salesmen line up for blocks to make their cases at Leader's office, protesters are up in arms over new nuclear power stations, and Vaaldamian novella fans become unusually flustered when thinking about Leader. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vaaldam's national animal is the Harbor Seal.

Vaaldam is ranked 78,680^th in the world and 262^nd in Talonia for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 2,937.32 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.