The Emirate of Shakalam is a large, environmentally stunning nation, renowned for its state-planned economy, prohibition of alcohol, and stringent health and safety legislation. The democratic population of 99 million Shakalamians are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Welfare, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 45.4%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but sluggish Shakalamian economy, worth 2.48 trillion Feal-Leaves a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient, quite specialized black market in Beef-Based Agriculture, Door-to-door Insurance Sales, Tourism, and Furniture Restoration. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 25,070 Feal-Leaves, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Disgruntled jocks are forced to play tetris for entertainment, the nation's soldiers are considered the best-dressed in Ninjar Tyla Blevins Cancer Syndrome, the government confiscates candy from babies for 'the greater good' of the nation, and all guns must be registered. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Shakalam's national animal is the Cicada, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Shakalam is ranked 207,777^th in the world and 50^th in Ninjar Tyla Blevins Cancer Syndrome for Nicest Citizens, with 9.76 average smiles per day.