No government in the foreseeable future is likely to tackle co-determination and two-tier boards head on.

ECONOMIST: Corporate governance in Germany

Businessmen are particularly upset by the decision to extend the system of workers' co-determination in the management of companies.

ECONOMIST: European economies

Co-determination, trade unions, supervisory boards and other inflexible features of German business life have already been put firmly on the sidelines.

ECONOMIST: German industry: Neighbours | The

Co-determination between management and unions with its built-in checks and balances is an advantage for German companies that want to plan for the long term, he argues.

ECONOMIST: German companies

The commission's remedy, which, thanks to the determination of its co-chairman, John Breaux, a Democratic senator from Louisiana, may yet find its way to the Senate, is to introduce competition.

ECONOMIST: Medicare reform

But the main European powers could demonstrate their determination to do better by co-ordinating with a view to military excellence rather than industrial protectionism the purchase of tanks, artillery and helicopters, as well as the ships and aircraft needed to bring them to battle.

ECONOMIST: Defending the Union

Hillary Clinton's determination to act as a virtual co-president back in 1993 helped to create a backlash against her husband's administration.

ECONOMIST: Let Michelle be Michelle

Let us co-operate on security, work together to prosecute terrorist crime, share information, show total solidarity in our determination against terrorism.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Politics | Blair's speech in Lisbon