The Great Storm of 1703 is a massive, safe nation, renowned for its state-planned economy and stringent health and safety legislation. The democratic population of 3.235 billion 1703ians enjoy great social freedoms and frequent elections, where the majority of the populace regularly votes to increase its benefits at the expense of various hapless minorities.

The medium-sized, moralistic, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Welfare, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 29.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but stagnant 1703ian economy, worth 30.2 trillion 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, quite specialized black market in Trout Farming, Automobile Manufacturing, Tourism, and Basket Weaving. 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 9,320 lire, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no 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. 1703's national animal is the eagle.

1703 is ranked 127,938^th in the world and 13^th in The New Storm for Lowest Crime Rates, with 62.93 law-abiding acts per hour.