The Empire of Meretica is a colossal, genial nation, ruled by King Michael II with an even hand, and renowned for its rum-swilling pirates, state-planned economy, and compulsory military service. The compassionate, cheerful, devout population of 8.744 billion Mereticans are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The large, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Almaton. The average income tax rate is 97.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Meretican economy, worth a remarkable 1,809 trillion Imperial Pounds a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is fairly diversified, is led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is an amazing 206,902 Imperial Pounds, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Sales of disinfectant wipes have skyrocketed, the Meretican delegation to the World Assembly is having a hard time convincing people that international law will "pay for itself somehow...", people who stay late at the office often come home to find their own funeral being planned, and internet searches for the inventor of the three-wheeled steam-powered Meretican weed picker are way up. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Meretica's national animal is the golden eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Belecthorian Societal Orthodoxy.

Meretica is ranked 124,624^th in the world and 6^th in PSUSH for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 974.32 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.