The Fiefdom of Horteka is a colossal, socially progressive nation, renowned for its state-planned economy, devotion to social welfare, and stringent health and safety legislation. The devout population of 2.568 billion Hortekans are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Spirituality, and Education. The average income tax rate is 69.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but stagnant Hortekan economy, worth 35.0 trillion pesos a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Woodchip Exports, and Trout Farming. Average income is 13,632 pesos, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

A large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway, genetic researchers have been expelled, surveillance cameras are banned, and singles on the dating scene no longer worry about looking their age. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Horteka's national animal is the salmon, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Horteka is ranked 181,060^th in the world and 1^st in Ixa Taka for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 335.46 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.