The hastily arranged purchase of Bear Stearns by JP Morgan Chase is the result of exactly such a bank run on the bank, as Bear's counterparties lost faith in it.

ECONOMIST: Business.view

However since a bank only keeps a small percentage of its assets in cash or short-term investments if there is a run on a bank or handful of them the overall faith in the banking system could be rattled.

FORBES: Weak European Banks Could be Forced to Merge

As a candidate, Mr Bush resolutely refused to run against big government, campaigning instead on a programme of restoring faith in the nation's institutions.

ECONOMIST: Lexington