nationalise

A year ago, British policymakers were still arguing about whether or not to nationalise Northern Rock, the failed mortgage lender.

Hence, some analysts think the US government will eventually nationalise parts of the financial system, as it has started to do with AIG.

The Treasury played down suggestions that it was making emergency contingency plans to shore up Lloyds let alone nationalise the bank.

The fact that governments have had to nationalise, or prop up, many of the leading banks suggests that a rethink is in order.

But I do not believe any country should be eager to nationalise its banks, except in extremis.

The government of Iceland has had to nationalise two of its biggest banks and is frantically seeking a lifeline loan from Russia.

Why not nationalise the banks and have done with it?

Venezuela is planning to nationalise its biggest electricity group, now majority-owned by AES, an American power company.

The move to nationalise Kaupthing prompted a diplomatic row between the UK and Iceland.

Mr Summers and Mr Geithner beat back calls to nationalise banks, and excised the most anti-banker elements from financial laws.

Furthermore, if a government thinks it will eventually have to nationalise, there are merits in getting on with it.

If the scheme fails, however, the government will have no choice but to accept the unacceptable and nationalise RBS.

De Beers operates in some tricky countries: Angola is unstable and South Africa has politicians who would love to nationalise its mines.

Japanese media have suggested the government might nationalise Tepco or is preparing to inject capital into the utility.

The prime minister, for his part, insists that he does not want to nationalise LBG.

Both the UK and US governments face pressure not merely to bail out these banks, which they have already attempted, but to nationalise them.

Governments nationalise assets: in recent years, Congo has taken several mines from their private owners.

Some weeks ago I suggested that the government should "shoot the bankers and nationalise the banks" .

It will also diversify its cash reserves into the currencies of allies, such as China, Russia and Brazil, and nationalise the gold industry.

Others continue to push the nationalise-and-recapitalise option, though this remains politically unpalatable in America.

Now is the time to nationalise all major industries and banks.

Venezuela, for example, has announced plans to nationalise telecommunications, electricity and oil businesses.

The government could nationalise Tesco, and rich and poor alike would get the same level of individualised service: not much.