The Republic of Joshstein is a very large, genial nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, frequent executions, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, hard-working, cynical population of 413 million Joshsteinians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The tiny, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Law & Order, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 9.4%.

The Joshsteinian economy, worth 25.5 trillion dollars a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Basket Weaving, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 61,727 dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.2 times as much as the poorest.

Diplomats miss flights while wandering Joshstein City Airport's endless art maze, surrealist houses shaped like mushrooms and volcanoes dominate the wealthiest neighborhoods, mollycoddled youths run the country, and protesters against the government are hanged as a warning to others. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Joshstein's national animal is the cardinal, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Joshstein is ranked 195,112^th in the world and 10,222^nd in Lazarus for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 31.23 on the Bus Surprisal Index.