The Republic of Gildenshtuck is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Oliver Blue with an even hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, punitive income tax rates, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, devout population of 4.709 billion Gildenshtuckians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The large, corrupt, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Amora. The average income tax rate is 84.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Gildenshtuckian economy, worth 776 trillion gildens a year, is quite specialized and mostly comprised of black market activity, especially in Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 164,953 gildens, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Genetic researchers have been expelled, dreams of replicator technology have been dashed following a ban on 3D printers, the Ministry of Health has reported a sharp increase in the incidence of delayed menopause, and dogs are encouraged to confront the psychodynamic roots of their desire to be "good boys". Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Gildenshtuck's national animal is the falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Freedom Christianity.

Gildenshtuck is ranked 11,780^th in the world and 528^th in The North Pacific for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 54.76 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.