Of course, measuring the output and efficiency of public services by the numbers of people they deal with is a pretty crude method.

ECONOMIST: Health and education

Until a fairer, less crude method of taxing motorists is devised, all political parties will be regarded with suspicion.

ECONOMIST: British election briefing: Transport

The fact that the wheels have come off the government's fuel tax policies so disastrously this week emphasises the need for a fairer, less crude method of taxing motorists.

ECONOMIST: The Liberal Democrats

Although they were recorded by the rather crude method of placing a tape recorder in front of the television, as was common in the days before video recorders, the quality is surprisingly clear.

BBC: Lost glam rock tapes found