The Republic of Babette is a huge, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its burgeoning dragon population. The compassionate population of 784 million Babetteans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 27.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Babettean economy, worth 38.1 trillion golds a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Trout Farming, and Furniture Restoration. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 48,591 golds, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Burnt-out forty-foot-tall wicker men dot the countryside, economists claim no news is good news, former arsonists can be found on local fire brigades, and giggling teens are asked to put their mouths on rubber dolls. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Babette's national animal is the dragon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Babette is ranked 103,836^th in the world and 194^th in The Blades for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring 2,248.42 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.