Russia's grid and power plants are going cheap because they are clapped out.

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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