The Republic of Des Frisson is a tiny, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its daily referendums. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 14 million Des Frissonians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The relatively small, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Administration. The average income tax rate is 9.2%.

The Des Frissonian economy, worth 948 billion Coquilles a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is 67,776 Coquilles, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.0 times as much as the poorest.

The government response to disaster victims starving for bread is "let them eat stale cake", the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, signs saying "No Poor People or Weirdoes" are common outside shops and cafés, and citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless. Crime is well under control. Des Frisson's national animal is the Lobster, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Des Frisson is ranked 32,603^rd in the world and 132^nd in The Frontier Sea for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 61,540.7 Standard Monetary Units.