The Oriental Empire of Merlovich is a huge, efficient nation, renowned for its keen interest in outer space, avowedly heterosexual populace, and punitive income tax rates. The hard-nosed, hard-working, humorless population of 740 million Merlovichans 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 medium-sized, corrupt government prioritizes Defense, although Education, Law & Order, and Industry are also considered important, while Spirituality and International Aid are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tousunai. The average income tax rate is 54.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Merlovichian economy, worth 93.2 trillion Tousunai Dollars a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Trout Farming. Average income is an impressive 125,975 Tousunai Dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.3 times as much as the poorest.

Exorbitant spending on icebreakers breaks the ice at every budget meeting, when people ask what the difference is between politicians and lawyers they are referred to document c15(iv) section 14.1 subsection 3.2 of the Jan 2015 political category definition guidance codes, the diplomatic corps tends to open negotiations by insulting all the foreigners in the room, and Merlovich is notorious for its citizens' infidelity. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merlovich's national animal is the Red Panda, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Merlovich is ranked 46,295^th in the world and 1,709^th in The East Pacific for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 54.52 Effective Tax Rate.