The Colony of Parkside is a huge, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its irreverence towards religion. The hard-working, democratic population of 831 million Parksideans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The tiny, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 7.1%.

The Parksidean economy, worth 45.6 trillion aurums a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Trout Farming, and Soda Sales. Average income is 54,885 aurums, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.7 times as much as the poorest.

Tourists from around the world come to visit the country's famous rainforests, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, hypochondriacs demand treatment for genetic disorders they don't have, and corporations donate huge sums of money to favored politicians. Crime is moderate, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Parkside's national animal is the buffalo.

Parkside is ranked 81,709^th in the world and 1^st in Parkside for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 2,808.02 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.