The Colony of Ulm 173 is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, parental licensing program, and prohibition of alcohol. The hard-nosed, devout population of 1.807 billion Ulm 173ians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The large, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 71.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 173ian economy, worth 228 trillion bitcoins a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 126,378 bitcoins, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.0 times as much as the poorest.

Shoving people into lockers qualifies you for a ministerial position, citizens are encouraged to show displeasure with politicians by poking them with sharp metal sticks, Blackacrean security services are wondering why Leader is so fond of the numbers 6, 7 and 9, and late night adverts for breast milk co-ops regularly win pornography industry awards. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 173's national animal is the horse, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ulm 173 is ranked 39,368^th in the world and 140^th in Swabian autonomous region for Highest Average Incomes, with 126,378.51 Standard Monetary Units.