Economy & Currency
The Federation exports what the rest of the world only later learned it needed: sweetness without sugar, satiety without starch, and devices that measure what no one could see before. The economy has run on Caprisun since 1969.
From Dextro Energie to Caprisun
From 1922 to 1969, Diabetien ran on Dextro Energie . It was affordable and initially represented progress over the raw cane sugar used before it. Over time, however, it harmed local well-being and became increasingly disapproved of.
Since June 2, 1969, Caprisun provides the energy system's base load. The liquid system can be distributed through pipes and public fountains. The transition is regarded as the deepest turning point since the foundation of the state.
Dextro Energie is subject to a commercial import embargo. Declared personal imports are exempt if total private possession remains at or below 46 grams. This is a total limit, not a fresh allowance at each entry. Use is prohibited unless covered by an official reserve release.
since June 2, 1969
commercial imports banned · private possession up to 46 g
Excusing emergency
In a hypoglycaemic event, a court may subsequently discontinue proceedings if no Caprisun source was reasonably reachable. Sources include fountains, factories, shops, personal stocks, and supplies carried by passers-by. A source is reachable when within calling distance, or otherwise within a radius of 100 metres. What the person was still expected to search for or ask about depends on their physical and cognitive condition at that moment.
The surviving protest sticker is listed in the timeline, with an image and download .
Public utilitiesDrink-Wasser-Versorgung-Diabetien
The Drink-Wasser-Versorgung-Diabetien is the central provider for the entire country and a state-owned public enterprise supervised by the Federal Ministry of Energy and Reserves. In official documents its name is Drink and Water Supply Diabetien, abbreviation: DWVD.
Every home has four connections: water, Caprisun Orange, Coca-Cola light or zero, and White Monster. Households order their Coca-Cola choice in the evening for the following day. Without a new order, the previous day’s choice continues; new connections default to Coca-Cola zero.
CurrencyThe Unit
The legal tender is the Unit (IE), divided into 100 milligrams (mg). The Unit is pegged not to gold but to the bread unit: the Federal Bank maintains its value so that one bread unit of staple food always costs between 0.90 and 1.10 IE. This peg is called the Carbohydrate Anchor.
| Denomination | Design | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 IE | The Memorial Fountain on Zuckerhut Square | White |
| 5 IE | Bridge over the Mellita | Sand |
| 10 IE | The Blue Circle | Blue |
| 20 IE | The Sonnen Pass with the boundary stone without a border | Green |
| 50 IE | The Zuckerhut, summit viewed from the south | Violet |
| 100 IE | The First Injection, January 11, 1922 | Deep blue |
Coins are issued in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 mg. The 200 IE banknote was withdrawn in 1998 because it encouraged one-off spending.
Monetary policyDiabetien Federal Bank
The Federal Bank in Retardos manages the economy not through a policy interest rate but through the basal rate — a continuous withdrawal of purchasing power per reference account, measured in units per hour. During overheating, the council increases this charge through a correction bolus; when it cools, the council approves a temporary basal-rate reduction. Abrupt moves are considered irresponsible; the Bank is proud never to have changed the rate by more than 0.05 IE/h at a time since 1985.
unchanged since March 2025
within the target range of 1.5% to 3.0%
President of the Federal Bank: Gustav Retard, in office since 2019. The twelve-year term cannot be renewed — the Bank calls this its duration of action.
Sectors by share of GDP
| Industry | Share |
|---|---|
| Sensors, medical technology, precision engineering | 21.2% |
| Sweetener chemistry and sugar substitutes | 18.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 14.7% |
| Agriculture and forestry | 9.3% |
| Software and loop technology | 8.1% |
| Dairy production and fisheries | 7.8% |
| Trade, customs, and logistics | 6.9% |
| Care and therapeutic services | 5.2% |
| Other | 8.4% |
Major firms
- PumpinaPen and pump works on the quay — manufacturing accurate to one hundredth of a Unit
- RetardosThe Retard Works — the Federation's largest employer
- Betazell am ZuckerhutFederal Caprisun Works — base load and bottling
- MultinesInstitute for Special Cases — researching what no one else investigates
- NovartemisMoon Works — temporary nutrition and care
- Federation-wideDiabetien Federal Railway (DBB) — no line steeper than two per cent
Customs import rates
| Product | Tariff rate |
|---|---|
| Sugar-sweetened soft drinks | 300% |
| Glucose and fructose syrup | 240% |
| Table sugar (sucrose) | 200% |
| Honey, concentrated fruit syrups, malt extract | 120% |
| Refined wheat flour | 85% |
| Fried potato products | 60% |
| Approved sweeteners and sugar substitutes | 0% |
| Fibre, nut flours, konjac | 0% |
| Sensors and medical technology | 0% |
| Dextro Energie | Commercial: embargo · personal: declare, possession up to 46 g |
Customs notice
The import of table sugar is not prohibited. It is permitted, declared, and expensive. Travellers may bring in 500 g per person duty-free — the so-called Birthday Allowance.
Dextro Energie
Personal imports must be declared and remain within the total possession limit of 46 grams. Commercial imports remain banned. An official reserve release permits use of the amount issued; only a court can decide on an individual defence of necessity.