It must also support those brands better, by rejigging its operations from top to bottom.

ECONOMIST: Branded goods (1)

However, if Dr Agrawal's primality test can be extended to factoring numbers, it would mean a rejigging of modern cryptography.

ECONOMIST: Number theory

Few want to devote scarce time and energy to switching suppliers with all the rejigging of computer systems that entails.

ECONOMIST: Satyam, India��s disgraced technology firm, finds a buyer

Beyond that, the outlook is cloudy, especially since euro-zone leaders are talking about rejigging Greece's second bail-out package, agreed last July.

ECONOMIST: How much more can Greeks take?

More recent initiatives, such as rejigging the tax incentives on health care, fell off the radar screen almost as soon as they were announced.

ECONOMIST: The president's economic team

The company is rejigging its management structure with Alan Wiseman becoming non-executive chairman and brother Robert - currently managing director - stepping up to chief executive.

BBC: Wiseman's production line

It could start today, of course, by simplifying the paperwork (the state's administration body for the health sector has to follow 15, 000 statutory texts), and by rejigging health-care prices.

ECONOMIST: Health care in France

Nonetheless, it is an attractive idea because it would have other benefits (soot is bad for people's lungs) and would not require the wholesale rejigging of energy production which reducing CO2 emissions implies.

ECONOMIST: Climate change in the Arctic

There are some bright spots for them, such as North Carolina, where the newly Republican legislature is likely to be able to flip a few Democratic seats in Congress by rejigging the boundaries.

ECONOMIST: Redistricting rows

But they were also raked over the financial coals on March 8th when Tom Winsor, a former rail regulator asked by the government to look into police pay and conditions, recommended rejigging allowances, bonuses and overtime.

ECONOMIST: Police pay

What may be needed is a rejigging of banks' balance-sheets to try to contain this panic, with a clearer line between those who bear losses, including shareholders and junior creditors, and those, such as depositors, senior creditors and counterparties, who can be assured of business as usual.

ECONOMIST: The task of sorting out banking is far from finished