The Democratic Republic of Graindon is a tiny, safe nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service and irreverence towards religion. The hard-nosed, hard-working population of 7 million Graindonians 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 relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 20.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Graindonian economy, worth 340 billion rens a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Cheese Exports, Woodchip Exports, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 48,611 rens, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.1 times as much as the poorest.

Political parties are banned from advertising and receiving private donations, the mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas, things are looking up for patients accidentally prescribed erectile dysfunction medication, and the right to counsel goes both ways. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Graindon's national animal is the NIL, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Graindon is ranked 221,046^th in the world and 90^th in Norrsken for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -3.74 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.