The Republic of Burning Sand is a small, socially progressive nation, notable for its frequent executions, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, cynical population of 26 million Sandians are ruled with an iron fist by the socialist government, which grants its people the freedom to do whatever they like so long as it doesn't involve getting richer than anybody else or challenging the government.

The enormous, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 72.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The basket case Burning Sandian economy, worth 281 billion grains a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Retail, Automobile Manufacturing, and Information Technology. Average income is 10,843 grains, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Orphans would rather live their life of luxury than be adopted by prospective parents, the only science is political science, legislators work 24/7 due to an influx of single-issue bills, and treason is relative. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Burning Sand's national animal is the phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Burning Sand is ranked 12,735^th in the world and 44^th in Refugia for Most Income Equality, scoring 87.29 on the Marx-Engels Emancipation Scale.