The Democratic Republic of Artoznik is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by the Azo with a fair hand, and renowned for its rum-swilling pirates, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and keen interest in outer space. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.307 billion Artozi are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The medium-sized, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Yephoen. The average income tax rate is 57.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The thriving Artozi economy, worth 111 trillion Kortozzes a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Basket Weaving, and Uranium Mining. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 85,668 Kortozzes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.8 times as much as the poorest.

Traffic cops are puzzled to see that nobody exceeds the speed limits, The Azo's new door-knocking campaign has the sweet taste of success, The Azo has just been declared ruler of Artoznik in an international press conference, and war vets look after war animals. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Artoznik's national animal is the Hawk, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Artoznik is ranked 81,679^th in the world and 42^nd in Arctica for Most Subsidized Industry, scoring 2,127.61 on the Gilded Widget Scale.