Such a gain would theoretically help boost Google's search-ad business, though a company spokesman declined to comment on the matter.

WSJ: Google Renews Push in China

Outside the mining sector, strong equity markets allowed some rich-listers to boost their fortunes and gain ground against the commodity crowd.

WSJ: Fortunes Fall for Australia Mining Magnates

Many of their ideas, properly implemented, would boost long-run potential, but not address the reason why the recovery has struggled to gain a foothold: banks and households are still whittling down their pre-crisis debt, thus sapping demand and almost guaranteeing years of low growth.

ECONOMIST: America��s jobs crisis