The Matriarchy of Merci is a titanic, safe nation, notable for its ban on automobiles and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 23.933 billion Mercians are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The large, moralistic, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Environment, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 38.0%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The large but sluggish Mercian economy, worth 454 trillion Euros a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Furniture Restoration, Information Technology, and Tourism. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 18,987 Euros, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Voting is compulsory, the nation is ravaged by daily union strikes, genetic researchers have been expelled, and cars are banned. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merci's national animal is the sparrow, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Merci is ranked 46,584^th in the world and 1^st in PROJECT BEEZLEBUB for Largest Black Market, with 19.8 trillion Standard Monetary Units.