When the new methods were tested in selected areas in 2002, the proportion of cases where charges were changed or dropped fell from 51% to 18%, while conviction rates rose by 15%.

ECONOMIST: Police muddles mean botched prosecutions. Time for reform

In fact, in labour-intensive work, interest charges are a small proportion of total costs.

ECONOMIST: The other government in Bangladesh

Closer to home, despite the imposition of dental charges in Britain since the 1950s, there has been a steady rise in the proportion of people with a healthy set of teeth.

ECONOMIST: Bevan’s baby hits middle age | The