But now the miracle is powerfully reshaping the continental land mass and old perceptions with it.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

And despite (or because of) Margaret Thatcher's efforts, and their plain boost to Britain's economy, many British media react to mass lay-offs much as continental ones do.

ECONOMIST: You��re fired

It is a far cry from the mass universities, with poor links to local industry, that are the norm in continental Europe.

ECONOMIST: The economy has some weaknesses��but several strengths too