The Republic of Mercatoren is a colossal, orderly nation, renowned for its complete lack of prisons, pith helmet sales, and anti-smoking policies. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless population of 4.861 billion Mercatorenians 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 large, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 65.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Mercatorenian economy, worth 629 trillion Koronas a year, is mostly comprised of black market activity, especially in Arms Manufacturing, Uranium Mining, Gambling, and Information Technology. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 129,485 Koronas, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.0 times as much as the poorest.

Vegetables are crisper thanks to CRISPR, acupuncture is routinely prescribed for intravenous drug addicts, those who turn the other cheek seem to enjoy being slapped just a little too much, and all-natural foods are becoming a major fad. Crime is almost non-existent, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mercatoren's national animal is the Bobcat, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Mercatoren is ranked 38,334^th in the world and 1^st in Cup of Farmony for Highest Average Incomes, with 129,485.56 Standard Monetary Units.