The Commonwealth of Skion is a very large, genial nation, notable for its ban on automobiles, state-planned economy, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 306 million Skiandics are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The large, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Atheicentral. The average income tax rate is 71.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but inefficient Skionian economy, worth 15.7 trillion kronor a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Cheese Exports, and Basket Weaving. Average income is 51,453 kronor, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Male cubicle workers stand up every time a woman enters the room, judges who serve for life or good behavior can expect to stay for a week, the most notorious criminals are given the Consequences of Your Actions Award, and Max Barry is this year's Miss Skion. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Skion's national animal is the Rusty-Spotted Cat, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Skion is ranked 287,735^th in the world and 683^rd in The Leftist Assembly for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -10.15 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.