But although the Tories succeeded in introducing a slightly tougher system for incapacity benefit, paid to people deemed incapable of work, they were too cowed by the powerful disability lobby to set about root-and-branch reforms.

ECONOMIST: Welfare reform: Dreams of Field | The

But Mr Kirchner cowed them too during his four years in office, thanks to high approval ratings and an ample budget surplus, which gave him an unusual amount of freedom to direct spending to supportive regional officials.

ECONOMIST: Argentina