Weary Americans and allies will see merely a vague promise to start pulling troops out in 18 months' time, with no new ideas as to how to win the war first.

ECONOMIST: The surge in Afghanistan

And though Mr Putin has made it clear more than once that military reform is a top priority, there is no sign of any new ideas on how to achieve this.

ECONOMIST: Putin’s one-man show continues | The

While Mr Sachs proposes a global incentive fund for future vaccine development there are no ideas on how to expand access to existing new medicines.

ECONOMIST: Sachs and drugs