The coyness with which the pro-Gamal campaign has begun suggests that, within the regime as well as among ordinary people, the presidential succession is by no means a done deal.

ECONOMIST: Egypt's presidential hopeful

Given the storm over one reform that was tried the monetisation of some in-kind social benefits and the anxiety in the Kremlin over the presidential succession in 2008, that chance may now disappear altogether.

ECONOMIST: Is Russia heading for ??stagflation???

Where the first term saw a succession of relatively bloodless presidential victories partisan routs in the case of tax cuts, bipartisan agreements in the case of education reform the second term will see a bloodier battle on Social Security, whoever wins.

ECONOMIST: State of the union: The revolution, phase two | The