Some of this confusion reflects a widespread misunderstanding about how China's integration into the world economy affects prices in the rich world.

ECONOMIST: Why China is not to blame for the surge in global inflation

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Peter Smyth said there was a widespread misunderstanding about the nature of restrictive duties which the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and Home Office had failed to correct.

BBC: Police officers

Unfortunately, a congressional by-election season in the second term of a presidency confronting widespread public misunderstanding of, and fatigue with, a global war is far from the best of circumstances.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Do the right thing

Moody's says it discontinued unsolicited ratings five years ago owing to widespread misunderstanding of the practice, though it continues to analyse a small number of companies (it will not say exactly how many) whose initial unsolicited ratings pre-date 2000.

ECONOMIST: Credit-rating agencies

Still, an undercurrent of mistrust and paranoia, exacerbated by a widespread ignorance of Sudan's geography and history, tends to infuse Arabs' misunderstanding of the country.

ECONOMIST: South Sudan and the Arab world