The kind of heavy industries promoted in China's first five-year plan, for example, still enjoy tremendous privileges.

ECONOMIST: China��s new five-year plan is at odds with itself

Generally, the first and last years of any five-year plan are the weakest, with the middle years being the strongest when the new programs are in full swing.

FORBES: China's Growth Rate

The country might be producing its first shale gas at scale before the current five-year plan is over.

ECONOMIST: Shale gas should make the world a cleaner, safer place

When Robert McNamara arrived at the World Bank, one of the first things he did was to draft a five-year plan, which aimed at doubling lending.

NEWYORKER: The Next Crusade

The first stage will see a budget allocated for a five-year action plan.

BBC: The Barras

The sale and run-off of non-core assets, first set out in early 2009 at the start of the RBS's three-to-five-year recovery plan, meant a fifth of the balance sheet was to be non-core, and the balance sheet was to be halved in size.

BBC: Lloyds co-operates, RBS shrinks