When the country first passed laws supporting film-making in 1927, it forced cinemas to show a minimum quota of British films, arguing that they needed special protection.

ECONOMIST: Hollywood's startlingly British blockbusters

Thanks to Newt Gingrich and his band of zealous Republicans, the 1996 farm bill abolished the guaranteed minimum price, increased the quota for imports and, most importantly, scrapped the domestic cartel of producers.

ECONOMIST: America��s sugar industry: Bittersweet | The

Just under half of the women politicians reported that their parties had adopted some kind of quota system designed to ensure they fielded a minimum number of women candidates in elections.

BBC: Betty Boothroyd