The Republic of Amsterwald is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by President Via with an even hand, and renowned for its digital currency, frequent executions, and punitive income tax rates. The hard-nosed, hard-working, humorless population of 8.579 billion Amsterwalders are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Glassmont. The average income tax rate is 70.4%.

The frighteningly efficient Amsterwalder economy, worth a remarkable 1,967 trillion Waldenian dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an amazing 229,354 Waldenian dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.1 times as much as the poorest.

There has been a series of riots between local cannibals and health food advocates, marketing departments of corporate giants compete to sponsor little league teams, people's charity begins and ends at home, and political loyalty is enforced by way of chemical addiction. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Amsterwald's national animal is the golden eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Protestantism.

Amsterwald is ranked 167,216^th in the world and 189^th in Commonwealth of Liberty for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 24.83 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.