The Republic of Izern 89 is a massive, genial nation, remarkable for its state-planned economy, enslaved workforce, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, cynical population of 2.347 billion Izern 89ians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Administration. The average income tax rate is 65.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Izern 89ian economy, worth 257 trillion deniers 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 a large, well-organized, quite specialized black market in Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, Furniture Restoration, and Beef-Based Agriculture. 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 109,594 deniers, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Any secret that gets off someone's chest is promptly replaced, the latest guided missile cruiser "Ship-1642" has received precisely zero column inches in the press, modelling agencies send their clients to work in nursing homes, and renewable energy projects have ground to a halt. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Izern 89's national animal is the wolf, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Izern 89 is ranked 32,685^th in the world and 40^th in Izern for Highest Poor Incomes, with 71,851.04 Standard Monetary Units.