The Republic of Elsen is a mid-sized, safe nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape and frequent executions. The hard-working, democratic, devout population of 74 million Elsenians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The relatively small, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Education, and Welfare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 9.6%.

The strong Elsenian economy, worth 4.02 trillion dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Retail, Soda Sales, and Cheese Exports. Average income is 54,345 dollars, with the richest citizens earning 7.9 times as much as the poorest.

The death penalty has been reintroduced, corporations donate huge sums of money to favored politicians, euthanasia is illegal, and it's considered providence that the political lexicon contains a syrup of company slogans. Crime is well under control. Elsen's national animal is the dog, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Elsen is ranked 69,943^rd in the world and 1,120^th in the South Pacific for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 49,128.37 Standard Monetary Units.