The Republic of Zarlan is a huge, efficient nation, remarkable for its ubiquitous missile silos, devotion to social welfare, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 626 million Zarlanians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zarlan City. The average income tax rate is 44.0%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Zarlanian economy, worth 51.3 trillion Zaris a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Tourism, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 81,915 Zaris, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Burning twigs to keep warm while lost in the wild is now a felony, it is illegal to distribute Girl Guide Cookies without an advanced food hygiene diploma, people who have had childhood imaginary friends are told they can't ever be trusted with guns, and Zarlanians seem to be catching more chills. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarlan's national animal is the leopard, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zarlan is ranked 109,761^st in the world and 1,103^rd in the West Pacific for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 44 Effective Tax Rate.