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

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