The Swabian Autonomous Zone of Ulm 21 is a massive, efficient nation, notable for its teetotalling pirates, parental licensing program, and suspicion of poets. The hard-nosed, cynical, devout population of 2.195 billion Ulm 21ians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Industry, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Belekovo. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 67.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 21ian economy, worth 309 trillion ducats a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 140,822 ducats, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 400,896 per year while the poor average 39,467, a ratio of 10.2 to 1.

Construction of the Really Big Hadron Collider is underway, cotton candy made from genuine cotton cellulose doesn't quite satisfy, a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway, and the nation threatens sanctions on islands only visible at low tide. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 21's national animal is the Bear, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ulm 21 is ranked 82,638^th in the world and 139^th in Swabian autonomous region for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 46,330.76 Standard Monetary Units.