By not rejecting out of hand the UN's push for a negotiated settlement and giving Mr Assad a chance to fail, the Council is playing wiser politics than usual.

ECONOMIST: Syria and the UN

In America, by some measures the least compliant of all, the incorporation-friendly states and business groups opposing reform continue to have the upper hand, despite valiant attempts by Senator Carl Levin to push through legislation that would require the registration of beneficial owners.

ECONOMIST: Shell companies

On the other hand, if a central bank responds by cutting official interest rates too drastically, it may push up inflation, or cause expectations of future inflation to rise.

ECONOMIST: CSI: credit crunch | The