The Borderlands of Talive Frets is a small, safe nation, notable for its state-planned economy, irreverence towards religion, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 26 million Talive Fretsians love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Welfare, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 36.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The weak Talive Fretsian economy, worth 787 billion lire a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient black market in Information Technology, Retail, Cheese Exports, and Book Publishing. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 30,278 lire, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Talive Frets's national animal is the horse, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Talive Frets is ranked 137,537^th in the world and 509^th in Concord for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 1,316.91 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.