The Republic of Edkeme is a colossal, safe nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, public floggings, and national health service. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 6.546 billion Edkemeans are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The tiny government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 4.1%.

The thriving Edkemean economy, worth 670 trillion Dollars a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Retail, Gambling, and Book Publishing. Average income is an impressive 102,489 Dollars, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 414,607 per year while the poor average 16,890, a ratio of 24.5 to 1.

Red Cross demand for body bags is rising while sutures go unused, teddy bear James Dean (aka "the Rebel Without the Claws") helps convince kids that candy cigarettes are cool, baby boys who pick up pink crayons are sent to a psychiatric ward, and religious education is a new government priority. Crime, especially youth-related, is relatively low. Edkeme's national animal is the Bear, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Edkeme is ranked 112,563^rd in the world and 5,329^th in Balder for Most Corrupt Governments, with 9.31 kickbacks per hour.