The Kingdom of Balfre is a huge, safe nation, remarkable for its smutty television, compulsory military service, and unlimited-speed roads. The compassionate, cynical population of 963 million Balfreans are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 31.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong Balfrean economy, worth 62.8 trillion Crystollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Retail, and Tourism. Average income is 65,218 Crystollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.6 times as much as the poorest.

Government programs are less "written" and more "plagiarised", muscular women are banned from competing in sporting competitions, it can be a real jungle in a modern courtroom, and taking hostages is a great way to influence government policy. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Balfre's national animal is the Crimson Falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Balfre is ranked 103,909^th in the world and 2,140^th in The North Pacific for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 1,657.91 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.