In fact, until this year Kimberly-Clark pretty reliably offered investors the things giant consumer-goods producers in mature markets have historically provided: Stability through downturns, plush capital-return policies to make up for the limited growth potential, and no big surprises.

FORBES: Overreaction To Two Earnings Misses Makes This Stock Look Cheap

On the other hand, his critics could counter that swifter progress in redirecting public spending away from a voracious bureaucracy and towards the needy might ensure that the jobless are still alive to enjoy the fruits of stability when they eventually mature.

ECONOMIST: Brazil