The Republic of Izern 271 is a huge, genial nation, remarkable for its zero percent divorce rate, punitive income tax rates, and stringent health and safety legislation. The cynical, devout population of 696 million Izern 271ians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The large, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 55.2%.

The Izern 271ian economy, worth 30.6 trillion izerns a year, is led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Soda Sales, and Information Technology. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 43,946 izerns, with the richest citizens earning 5.8 times as much as the poorest.

Airport users are more worried about radiation than terrorism, structures are raised on promises, citizens are encouraged to report friends, family members or co-workers who seem depressed to the government for "counselling", and UFO sightings are listed daily in the morning news. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Izern 271's national animal is the izern, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Izern 271 is ranked 264,252^nd in the world and 632^nd in Izern for Largest Populations, with 696 million capita.