The Dictatorship of Vertigon is a large, safe nation, remarkable for its closed borders, disturbing lack of elderly people, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 171 million Vertigonioux are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The large, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Administration. The average income tax rate is 44.0%.

The sizeable but sluggish Vertigonioux economy, worth 5.02 trillion Seaglasses a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Trout Farming, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 29,363 Seaglasses, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.3 times as much as the poorest.

In the mighty jungle the lion once again sleeps tonight, hotels often double as quarantine zones, solar death ray construction will commence as soon as it rains Seaglasses, and snap elections are called over every minor impasse. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vertigon's national animal is the Dolphin, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Vertigon is ranked 221,210^th in the world and 792^nd in the Plains of Perdition for Largest Black Market, with 333 billion Standard Monetary Units.