The Republic of Apple Tree is a tiny, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its state-planned economy, punitive income tax rates, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 12 million Trees are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Defense, and Spirituality. The average income tax rate is 55.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The basket case The Tree economy, worth 162 billion Apples a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Uranium Mining, and Woodchip Exports. Average income is 13,526 Apples, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Crossword puzzles have been co-opted as a symbol of racial discrimination, would-be emigrants are told "abandon all hope all ye who would exit here", preschoolers outnumber veteran politicians in government, and lavish state dinners in Apple Tree City are the state's leading budgetary expenditure. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Apple Tree's national animal is the Parrot, which can occasionally be seen dodging aircraft in the nation's cities.

Apple Tree is ranked 276,880^th in the world and 264^th in Forest for Highest Poor Incomes, with 13,103.92 Standard Monetary Units.