Lean manufacturing requires partners to share information knowing that it will not be leaked to a competitor, or used to strike a new bargain.

ECONOMIST: Firms and their suppliers

Their task, Mr Annan stressed, was not to strike a new bargain with Mr Hussein but to get him to rescind his ban on American nationals in Unscom.

ECONOMIST: Saddam defies the UN, again

They may thus be more ready to strike a grand bargain a deficit plan that both raises some new tax revenue and reduces the growth of entitlements, such as government-funded pensions.

ECONOMIST: Fiscal policy: Cliff-diving | The