The Republic of Hyphen is a mammoth, efficient nation, notable for its museums and concert halls, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and prohibition of alcohol. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless, devout population of 9.513 billion Hyphenians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The enormous, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 91.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Hyphenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,720 trillion gold coins a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is an enormous, deeply entrenched, highly specialized black market in Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Tourism. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is an impressive 180,851 gold coins, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.8 times as much as the poorest.

Cash-strapped junkies lick rabbits for a cheap high, the government's approval ratings go down while its turnover rate goes up, sweat stains are proof of political acumen, and the crispy fried liver of a black eagle is prized as a tasty treat by vagrants. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Hyphen's national animal is the black eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Hyphen is ranked 328,371^st in the world and 4,683^rd in The North Pacific for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring 10.33 on the Kitten Softness Rating.