He caved in to the trade unions when they jibbed at his plans to reform pensions and overhaul utilities.

ECONOMIST: Greece

Since August, many banks have jibbed at renewing loans to Brazilian borrowers, forcing them to buy back bonds or raise expensive local money.

ECONOMIST: Cracking the Brazil nuts | The

But ministerial duties and ideas do not always go happily together: as trade minister in the Balladur government of 1993-95, Mr Madelin constantly jibbed at the government's refusal to let the franc fall, correctly predicting a recession.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Under that trauma, Congress voted through some unpleasant measures, including rises in taxes and pension contributions, at which it had previously jibbed.

ECONOMIST: Brazil