The security of access to financing has made the euro area even more attractive to the EU's eastern states, some of which have had to fall back on rescue loans or precautionary credit lines from the IMF.

ECONOMIST: The gains outweigh the losses

Corruption, criminal investigation, personal security and the financing of politics are issues that trouble many Latin Americans, as they struggle to make their democracies work more effectively.

ECONOMIST: Argentina: Death and corruption | The

He proposes tax cuts that are modest by Republican standards, more than half of them targeted on the poorest taxpayers, and wants most of the budget surplus to go on financing the transition costs of reforming the Social Security (public pensions) system.

ECONOMIST: Not least his own party

Suntech notes that in July 2012, it had announced that it was conducting an investigation into a security interest it received from GSF Capital in connection with financing of Italian solar facilities related to its investment in Global Solar.

FORBES: Suntech Q3 Revs Miss; Italian Solar Scandal Spurs Restatement

With the shift from defined-benefit plans to defined-contribution plans, and the uncertain future of social security, boomers are on their own when it comes to financing retirement.

FORBES: Weave Your Own Retirement Safety Net