The Most Serene Republic of North Southumberland is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Rulerman The Wise with a fair hand, and notable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, punitive income tax rates, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 18.379 billion North Southers are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, corrupt, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of North Southumberland City. The average income tax rate is 99.5%.

The frighteningly efficient North Southish economy, worth a remarkable 4,416 trillion Floogles a year, is highly specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 240,312 Floogles, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Stern tutting by international commentators has persuaded North Southumberland to disarm, the government has begun selling heroin and ecstasy to help fund its projects, manufacturers of biodegradable plastics have to wait for months to show evidence of organic decomposition, and matryoshka dolls resembling nested Death Stars are commonly sold. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. North Southumberland's national animal is the Wombat, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

North Southumberland is ranked 113,363^rd in the world and 407^th in 10000 Islands for Largest Black Market, with 349 billion Standard Monetary Units.