But since these rents are made at the expense of the pension funds and insurance companies on which industry depends for long-term finance, it is not clear that the economy benefits from the process.

ECONOMIST: The risks posed by high-frequency trading

Citi will resolve the conflicts between research and investment banking, file its financial reports sooner, allocate public offerings more fairly, project gains in pension funds more conservatively, treat stock options as an expense, and insist that structured transactions be more clearly disclosed.

ECONOMIST: Citigroup: Passing the buck | The

Though less controversial than the pension plan, the tax bill benefits some sectors at the expense of others, and may also be vulnerable to tampering.

ECONOMIST: Lula places his fate in Congress's hands