The Swabian Autonomous Zone of Ulm 40 is a massive, orderly nation, remarkable for its parental licensing program, public floggings, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 2.151 billion Ulm 40ians are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

The relatively small, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Staronizhestebliyevskaya. The average income tax rate is 31.3%.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 40ian economy, worth 337 trillion Ducats a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 156,948 Ducats, with the richest citizens earning 5.0 times as much as the poorest.

Prime commercial land is being swamped with archaeological teams, large sections of Ulm 40 have been named national reserves to protect the native tribes living there, meat prices are soaring as the farming industry struggle under government-imposed restrictions, and counselors have to sign pledges supporting gay rights before they can speak to any patients. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 40's national animal is the Bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ulm 40 is ranked 199,918^th in the world and 147^th in Swabian autonomous region for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring zero on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.