The Stag of IZERN is a mammoth, cultured nation, notable for its digital currency, public floggings, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless population of 7.729 billion Sigmas are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

The relatively small, corrupt, pro-business, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 48.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Sigma economy, worth a remarkable 3,335 trillion Currencies a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Gambling. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an amazing 431,587 Currencies, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 3,971,487 per year while the poor average 4,796, a ratio of 828 to 1.

Charity workers dole out hardtack from behind designer sunglasses, ambulances aren't allowed to overtake hearses, waste collection professionals have been canned, and even the nation's brussel sprouts are delicious and nutritious. Crime, especially youth-related, is all-pervasive, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. IZERN's national animal is the National Animal, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

IZERN is ranked 251,830^th in the world and 3,522^nd in The North Pacific for Lowest Overall Tax Burden, scoring -18.04 on the Hayek Index.