The Republic of Ulm 393 is a massive, cultured nation, notable for its prohibition of alcohol, compulsory gun ownership, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 1.488 billion Ulm 393ians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The medium-sized, corrupt, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 54.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Ulm 393ian economy, worth 164 trillion Ducats 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 large, well-organized black market in Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Cheese Exports. 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 an impressive 110,628 Ducats, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

The sun now sets on the Ulm 393ian Empire, parole hearings come with a complimentary ten-year extension, tech-mad citizens think that the laser-powered bread-slicer uPhone App is the coolest thing since sliced bread, and the family summer vacation has become a thing of the past following the introduction of the year-round school year. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 393's national animal is the Bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ulm 393 is ranked 246,268^th in the world and 238^th in Swabian autonomous region for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -5.57 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.