<p>The more pretence there is agreement between countries when there is not, the more it undermines the credibility of other commitments leaders make at summits.</p>
Industrial nations helped the US export its way out of trouble in the 1980s but are now less inclined to assist America with economic problems of its own making.
Determining the neutral rate can determine how much stimulus an economy requires, and important policy implications follow if present low estimates are correct.