The Republic of -Melisandre- is a large, safe nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service, state-planned economy, and punitive income tax rates. The hard-nosed, democratic, devout population of 134 million -Melisandre-ians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 57.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but underdeveloped -Melisandre-ian economy, worth 5.39 trillion pesos a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is fairly diversified, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. Average income is 40,236 pesos, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Modelling agencies send their clients to work in nursing homes, Animal Liberationists are regularly arrested, citizens can be frequently spotted going about their business stark naked, and marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. -Melisandre-'s national animal is the fox, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

-Melisandre- is ranked 253,316^th in the world and 241^st in Shadow Realms for Highest Average Incomes, with 40,236.94 Standard Monetary Units.