Pro-immigration policies are particularly opposed by young people fearing competition from newcomers, says Keiichiro Asao, an opposition politician who supports letting in more foreigners.

ECONOMIST: Insiders and outsiders

Instead of fearing global competition, as Mr Kerry appears to, Mr Bush will exhort Americans to embrace it.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

Competition authorities are blocking the WorldCom and Sprint merger, fearing that it will stiffle competition within the telecommunications sector.

BBC: Dialling the wrong number

And so the field is open to vocal opponents, who include protected farmers, doctors and small businessmen fearing an onslaught of competition.

ECONOMIST: A battle over American-led free trade brews in Asia

Far from fearing private-school competition, the city's public system has embraced it: it has already absorbed three private religious schools (two Christian, one Hebrew).

ECONOMIST: It's not just the economy that is booming; schools are too

Many regulators, fearing that change and competition will bring greater risk, will be inclined to smother some of this innovation, by stifling start-ups or keeping foreign rivals out of their home markets.

ECONOMIST: Consumer banking

Robert resisted, fearing retailers would view it as competition.

FORBES: Sole Survivors