Without big changes, Aetna's new health-care company is unlikely to prosper.

ECONOMIST: American insurance

Fair of Yale University estimates that without big changes in policy, the national debt will rise to 75% of GDP by 2020 from 50% now, while interest expense will rise to 4.3% of GDP (see chart, below).

FORBES: Magazine Article

Since these savings are in unaudited funds, it is hard to judge how long the government can withstand a low oil price without big policy changes.

ECONOMIST: Hugo Ch��vez's Venezuela