The Federal Republic of Auersten is a mammoth, safe nation, ruled by Chancellor Andreas Steinhäuser with an even hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, national health service, and suspicion of poets. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 7.135 billion Auerstenians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Schwannsdorf. The average income tax rate is 21.3%.

The strong Auerstenian economy, worth 340 trillion Marks a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Gambling industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Uranium Mining, and Soda Sales. Average income is 47,753 Marks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.7 times as much as the poorest.

Droves of former desperados are applying to join the border police, the government is spending millions to provide full health care for all citizens, translators have been hired to deal with the varying regional accents during national political debates, and the media seems excessively interested in what Chancellor Andreas Steinhäuser is wearing this season. Crime is relatively low. Auersten's national animal is the Mouflon, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Auersten is ranked 275,213^th in the world and 21^st in Markion for Largest Manufacturing Sector, scoring 2,479.73 on the Gooback-Jerbs Productivity Index.