The Gradual Disintegration of Alan is a gargantuan, genial nation, remarkable for its rampant corporate plagiarism, ban on automobiles, and multi-spousal wedding ceremonies. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 20.204 billion Alanians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Social Policy. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The City of First Light. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 47.5%.

The strong Alanian economy, worth a remarkable 1,166 trillion single-origin chocolate bars a year, is quite specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Soda Sales, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is 57,728 single-origin chocolate bars, with the richest citizens earning 6.2 times as much as the poorest.

Kids' party bags often contain candy and e-cigarettes, census workers struggle to account for the rapidly increasing number of citizens to tabulate, cheap textbooks have replaced coasters at college ragers, and citizens cannot change their light bulbs without approval from an international committee. Crime, especially youth-related, is a problem, probably because of the absence of a police force. Alan's national animal is the attractive blue keyboard, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Alan is ranked 7,193^rd in the world and 1^st in The Social Democratic Alliance for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 13,808.3 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.