The Democratic States of Bistriva is a very large, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its frequent executions and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, democratic, devout population of 148 million Bistrivans are known throughout the region for their efficiency and work ethic, as well as their general suspicion of leisure.

The large, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Welfare, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 44.6%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Bistrivan economy, worth 5.70 trillion Bistravian Euros a year, is quite specialized and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Woodchip Exports, and Automobile Manufacturing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 38,500 Bistravian Euros, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.8 times as much as the poorest.

Engineers ask liberal arts majors "Do you want fries with that?", military spending is on the increase, the government is reining in public spending, and love is a precious butterfly to be crushed under diplomatic protocol. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Bistriva's national animal is the Brivchen-Saa, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Bistriva is ranked 219,138^th in the world and 1,046^th in Europe for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring -3.54 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.