The Republic of Ulm 281 is a massive, cultured nation, notable for its closed borders, frequent executions, and daily referendums. The hard-nosed, devout population of 1.472 billion Ulm 281ians are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The large, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Administration. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 69.9%.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 281ian economy, worth 169 trillion Ducats a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Furniture Restoration, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 115,114 Ducats, with the richest citizens earning 5.6 times as much as the poorest.

The government is chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow, it's never "just a game" with Ulm 281ian sports fans, government employees are authorized driver's licenses to get their bosses much-needed morning espressos, and young soldiers are shocked to discover there are no 'safe spaces' on a battlefield. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 281's national animal is the Bear, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ulm 281 is ranked 39,908^th in the world and 230^th in Swabian autonomous region for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 212.3 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.