On that last occasion, more than 65% of voters turned down an amendment that would have raised the interest-rate ceiling to 17%.

ECONOMIST: Usury laws: The bad side of town | The

In June, the PBOC announced that banks will be allowed to offer loans at interest rates up to 20 percent below the benchmark rate and be free to pay savers a rate up to 10 percent above the ceiling rate.

FORBES: China's Challenge: Balancing the State and Market

After various tests on the virtual prototype (such as making sure vital systems are insulated from lightning strikes), its ceiling, rate of climb and other handling characteristics are fed into a flight simulator.

ECONOMIST: Manufacturing technology