Spotlight on:

“Réveil, la réorientation, la révolution”

The Commonwealth of Kostemetsia is a colossal, economically powerful nation, ruled by Empress Alexis with an iron fist, and notable for its anti-smoking policies. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 5.894 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Education, although Social Welfare and Public Transport are secondary priorities. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Yelan. The average income tax rate is 13%, but much higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Book Publishing industry.

Military spending is on the increase, the government is spending millions on renovating the public transportation system, much of Kostemetsia's computer network is controlled by a rampant artificial intelligence, and voting is compulsory. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Kostemetsia's national animal is the lupen, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the credit.

Kostemetsia is ranked 29th in the region and 2,821st in the world for Smartest Citizens.