Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

In New York, I'm John Fassman.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events, shaping your world.

Prison populations have boomed across Latin America over the past two decades.

While the region is violent, most prisoners are poor people locked up for low-level crimes

such as theft, conditions are appalling, and they're getting worse.

And Chinese films tend to be blockbusters, often with patriotic themes.

But one recent release told the story of a poor rural couple's struggles.

It became a surprise hit, which seems to have made authorities nervous.

Italy is on course to have elected its most right-wing government since the Second World War.

Exit polls have given Georgia Malone brothers of Italy and their allies a share of the

vote that would ensure them comfortable majorities in both houses of parliament.

If we were to govern this nation, we would do it for everyone.

We would do it for all the Italians, we would do it with the aim of joining this people,

to exalt that which is the most important thing in life.

The claiming victory, Miss Malone, whose party traces its origins back to neo-fascism, said a coalition led by her would look to govern for all Italians.

Yesterday's vote was a snap election, called by the current Prime Minister Mario Draghi, eight months ahead of schedule.

Mr. Draghi's broad national unity government had collapsed in July.

After the rest of Europe, Italians are experiencing rising inflation, high energy prices, and the prospect of a cold winter.

But Italy is the third largest economy in the European Union, meaning the selection result, and the swellest support for Miss Malone in the Italian right, has consequences well beyond its borders.

Major Malone is now poised to become Italy's first woman Prime Minister.

John Hooper is the economist Italy correspondent.

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