The Republic of Vurk is a huge, genial nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate population of 313 million Vurks have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Kinigin. The average income tax rate is 77.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Vurkian economy, worth 29.2 trillion Credits a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Arms Manufacturing, and Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 93,410 Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Shopkeepers use microscopes to verify the authenticity of banknotes, sometimes a whole prison wing will house a single prisoner, warfare increasingly resembles a video game, and many in Vurk are born in the purple. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vurk's national animal is the Owl, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Vurk is ranked 233,266^th in the world and 1,179^th in Europe for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 48.04 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.