The Most Serene Republic of Piehu is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by Dusk Maine with a fair hand, and renowned for its smutty television, daily referendums, and absence of drug laws. The hard-nosed, democratic, humorless population of 4.193 billion Piehuans love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, corrupt, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Nihil City. The average income tax rate is 95.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Piehuan economy, worth a remarkable 1,672 trillion Piehuan Dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Retail. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 398,773 Piehuan Dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.5 times as much as the poorest.

Gambling is outlawed, children grow up long before the paperwork for their lemonade stands can be sorted out, reflection is vital for badly behaved politicians, and the government props up questionable pizza establishments in the name of health. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Piehu's national animal is the Shadow Dragon, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Piehu is ranked 214,808^th in the world and 332^nd in The Kodiak Republic for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring -1.77 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.