The Holy Empire of Valerite is a mammoth, efficient nation, ruled by Sir Arnold the Second with an iron fist, and remarkable for its national health service, anti-smoking policies, and pith helmet sales. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless population of 9.481 billion Valeriteans are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of City of Valerite. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 64.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Valeritean economy, worth a remarkable 2,239 trillion Florins a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Uranium Mining. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an amazing 236,168 Florins, with the richest citizens earning 7.3 times as much as the poorest.

Savvy nightclub-goers know that structurally unsound venues sell the cheapest drinks, 3D printed organs are a breath of new life for the sick and elderly, subsistence farmers require doctorates in applied sowing, and school nurse's offices feature full-service operating suites. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Valerite's national animal is the Whale, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Arnoldism.

Valerite is ranked 11,841^st in the world and 454^th in Lazarus for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 84,548.33 Standard Monetary Units.