The Commonwealth of Vale-Beacon is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Professor Ozpin with an even hand, and notable for its pith helmet sales, smutty television, and public floggings. The compassionate, devout population of 1.8 billion Hunters have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Beacon. The average income tax rate is 74.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Valian economy, worth 220 trillion Liens a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 122,410 Liens, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.9 times as much as the poorest.

Wind farms are erected on shuttered oil platforms, passive-aggressive congratulations cards inform mums-to-be that their pregnancy is their greatest achievement in life, criminals rejoice in the streets as the entire police force is sent away on a training retreat, and government statisticians explain census inaccuracies by declaring that "Sith happens". Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vale-Beacon's national animal is the Grimm, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Two Brothers.

Vale-Beacon is ranked 67,792^nd in the world and 360^th in Europe for Highest Wealthy Incomes, with 199,738 Standard Monetary Units.