The Dissociative State of Hardscrabble is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Dr Norvak Dolokai with a fair hand, and notable for its national health service, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and free-roaming dinosaurs. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 6.32 billion Hardscrabbleans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government prioritizes Education, although Environment, Administration, and Healthcare are also considered important, while Spirituality and Defense receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Squash Flats. The average income tax rate is 93.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Hardscrabblean economy, worth 930 trillion florgons a year, is highly specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 147,222 florgons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Tax revenue is often intercepted by international accountants before ever seeing the national treasury, dubiously qualified Skandilundian barristers keep referring to laws as 'government guidelines', self-driving cars occasionally mow down pedestrians to avoid inconveniencing passengers, and high school bands practice by moonlight. Crime is totally unknown. Hardscrabble's national animal is the wood shrew, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Hardscrabble is ranked 5,922^nd in the world and 134^th in the Rejected Realms for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 57.39 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.