Attention will then switch to Cyprus's European Union presidency in 2012 and its presidential election early in 2013.

ECONOMIST: The insoluble Cyprus problem

Attention will now switch to San Francisco, where Gregory Reyes, a former chief executive of Brocade Communications, is the first boss to stand trial on charges relating to the backdating of employee share-options.

ECONOMIST: A mixed week in George Bush's war on errant businessmen

Now that the car bosses have made their pitch, attention is sure to switch to the United Auto Workers.

ECONOMIST: America's carmakers