The Most Serene Republic of Kattonburg is a huge, cultured nation, notable for its frequent executions, keen interest in outer space, and restrictive gun laws. The cynical, humorless population of 898 million Kattonburgians 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 Education, Law & Order, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 35.8%.

The very strong Kattonburgian economy, worth 67.5 trillion Dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Automobile Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Retail, Uranium Mining, and Information Technology. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 75,127 Dollars , but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 228,111 per year while the poor average 19,228, a ratio of 11.9 to 1.

Former bars are desperately trying to re-brand themselves as cafés, mantis shrimp studies is academia's fastest-growing field, teddy bears and pajamas have replaced briefcases and suits in Kattonburg's offices, and nobody ever questions the unquestioned rule that questions must always be asked. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Kattonburg's national animal is the Swan, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Kattonburg is ranked 206,184^th in the world and 9,443^rd in Balder for Highest Poor Incomes, with 19,228.43 Standard Monetary Units.