The Republic of Zarlan is a huge, safe nation, notable for its museums and concert halls, sprawling nuclear power plants, and daily referendums. The compassionate population of 536 million Zarlanians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The medium-sized, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zarlan City. The average income tax rate is 42.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Zarlanian economy, worth 44.2 trillion Zaris a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Tourism, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 82,376 Zaris, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Private pharmacies close down as medicinal drugs are given away freely by the government, scientists pester asteroids with probes until they go away, giggling teens are asked to put their mouths on rubber dolls, and the Supreme Court vehemently protects civil rights and the right to privacy. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarlan's national animal is the leopard, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zarlan is ranked 84,684^th in the world and 706^th in the West Pacific for Highest Average Incomes, with 82,376.48 Standard Monetary Units.