The congested and clapped-out road and rail networks cause problems not only for Poland but also for its neighbours.

ECONOMIST: Poland's politics

Max Warburton of BernsteinResearch reckons the firm may now be generating 4-5% margins, despite its clapped-out range of models.

ECONOMIST: General Motors' IPO

These are typically costly and come from clapped-out fields along ageing pipelines through unreliable transit countries, with unwelcome political conditions attached.

ECONOMIST: Energy security in Europe

Sensible regulations not only make it easier for new firms to get started, but also help established firms change direction and clapped-out firms declare bankruptcy.

ECONOMIST: A World Bank report makes surprisingly cheerful reading

His appeal sprang from who he was: a fresh young senator offering a new direction after the clapped-out administration of George Bush and a safer pair of hands than the 72-year-old John McCain.

ECONOMIST: The campaign looks likely to sharpen America��s divisions

But others, such as hedge funds and private-equity groups, are wary of participating in government-backed plans after witnessing the hysteria whipped up over bonus payments at American International Group (AIG), a clapped-out (and now government-controlled) insurer.

ECONOMIST: Fixing America's banks