The Vermin Guild of Ratfink is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Rattenkönig with a fair hand, and remarkable for its deadly medical pandemics, public floggings, and enslaved workforce. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 10.021 billion Vermin live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, corrupt, liberal, pro-business, outspoken individuals is solely concerned with Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Rattestag. Income tax is unheard of.

The thriving Verminous economy, worth a remarkable 2,617 trillion filthy lucres a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Retail industry, with significant contributions from Gambling, Soda Sales, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is an amazing 261,242 filthy lucres, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 2,414,202 per year while the poor average 2,769, a ratio of 871 to 1.

When you fly on Air Ratfink you win a seat or you die, survivors of the Great Internet Flame War often recount horror stories of banhammers and DOS attacks, 'A is for Annulment' is a popular children's song, and the streets are increasingly clogged with poverty-stricken beggars. Crime, especially youth-related, is so common that it is unusual to encounter someone following the law, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Ratfink's national animal is the Field Vole, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Amberat.

Ratfink is ranked 285,352^nd in the world and 80^th in The Bar on the corner of every region for Most Subsidized Industry, scoring -16.73 on the Gilded Widget Scale.