Winchester has a large liberal-minded public-sector middle-class: Hampshire County Council, the Winchester School of Art, King Alfred's College, and the genteel types round its ancient cathedral and public school.

ECONOMIST: Historic Winchester

America may have some sins in its past but Americans today are the most optimistic, energetic, creative and liberal-minded people of any large nation.

ECONOMIST: Letters | The

The Greater Houston Partnership, an alliance of hard-nosed businessmen that looms large locally, has worked well with Bill White, Houston's business-minded but green mayor, to support his clean-up of the city's air and water.

ECONOMIST: Beyond oil

With large open tables and a laid back atmosphere, The Archive encourages like-minded people to mingle.

BBC: Dubai��s toilet block cafe

With sufficient cash, criminals, who tend not to obey high-minded anti-gun laws, can buy weapons like these on the street in almost any large city.

ECONOMIST: The OECD