The Holy Catholic Empire of Erstavik is a colossal, cultured nation, ruled by Emperor Luke I with an even hand, and remarkable for its national health service, keen interest in outer space, and digital currency. The compassionate, hard-working, devout population of 6.192 billion Erstavikians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Burgsvik. The average income tax rate is 39.0%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Erstavikian economy, worth 918 trillion Erstavik Dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is an impressive 148,275 Erstavik Dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.5 times as much as the poorest.

The government has spent days debating the merits of a petition calling for a ban on sporks, returning tourists and businessmen are detained without trial if they belong to the "wrong" religion, the nation's beloved 'good-natured doormat' is inundated by begging letters, and 4-year-olds studying for their mathematics exams are anxious that they will be unemployable in adulthood if they fail. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Erstavik's national animal is the Elephant, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Roman Catholicism.

Erstavik is ranked 9,409^th in the world and 178^th in the South Pacific for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry, scoring 7,581.1 on the Spitz-Pollish Productivity Index.