When he was manager of the Vicks VapoRub brand in India, flu epidemics posed absurd dilemmas: should he boost production beyond licensed limits (a punishable offence) or leave market demand unsatisfied?

ECONOMIST: India��s choices

Breach of an order is a criminal offence punishable with up to five years of imprisonment.

ECONOMIST: Are there better ways of dealing with sex offenders?

In March the government of Pakistani-administered Kashmir made acid attacks a criminal offence punishable with life imprisonment.

BBC: Pakistan acid attack parents 'feared dishonour'

Some of Mr Adams's former colleagues are already calling him a collaborator, traditionally an offence punishable by death.

ECONOMIST: Northern Ireland

Disclosing a covert agent's name is a criminal offence in the US, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | Contempt ruling in CIA leak case

Make illegal entry punishable as a felony, not a civil offence.

FORBES: Guest Post: Choosing Where Taxes Go

In 2004 the airline lost its licence to operate for an offence that industry sources say is normally punishable by a fine.

ECONOMIST: Your life may depend on it