You might have hoped that a more than 20% fall in the value of the pound during the financial crisis would have been enough to help us start to re-balance the UK economy - boosting the competitiveness of UK plc, and so reducing the gap between our exports and our imports.

BBC: A pounding for sterling in 2013?

Talks with the troika appeared to have stalled over the demand that Greece cut private-sector wages as a step toward boosting the country's competitiveness and jump-starting its recession-ravaged economy.

WSJ: Greek Party Leaders Struggle to Resolve Overhaul Differences

Boosting economic competitiveness and further reforms to the single market in areas such as services and energy were "best pursued" by all EU members and not just eurozone countries, they stressed.

BBC: Nick Clegg warns against 'needless rivalry' in Europe

Kent Hughes, director of a program that deals with global economic issues at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, gives Paulson "high marks" for keeping his eye on U.S. financial stability and being able to respond to a crisis, and he adds that boosting competitiveness is a task that extends beyond the boundaries of just the Treasury Department.

FORBES: Paulson Report Card: 'A' For Effort

Growth had to be achieved, he said, at the same time as continuing to reducing government deficits, and boosting economic competitiveness.

BBC: Davos 2013: Draghi sees 2013 eurozone recovery

Until the deadlock is resolved, Italy will remain a country adrift, its government unable to formulate the policies it needs (most urgently, a strategy for boosting economic competitiveness).

ECONOMIST: Italy's beleaguered prime minister

In the past decade its firms have modernised and their workers have accepted miserly pay rises, boosting their competitiveness.

ECONOMIST: Germany and the euro

Some of the weakness in both Germany and its neighbours may reflect the short-term impact of government and corporate reforms, which may be boosting long-term competitiveness, but are also dampening wages and thus consumer spending.

ECONOMIST: Euro economies