So far, governments have portrayed any such suggestions as foreign efforts to exploit local weakness.

ECONOMIST: The challenge from up north | The

For some of the cities on our list, the big problem is the weakness of their local economies.

FORBES: Cities Where Home Prices Are Still Tumbling

Greg Heym, an economist at Brown Harris Stevens and Halstead, said the slowdown likely reflected weakness in the local job market, including last year's loss of 4, 300 jobs in the securities industry between April and December.

WSJ: Property Slips in Manhattan

Much of this was the result of ongoing economic weakness in the developed world, although elevated local silver prices also led to lower demand in price-sensitive markets such as India, the report said.

FORBES: Silver Institute: Silver Investment Rises In 2012 But Fabrication Dips

The prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has tried to force local interest rates down, even if this means some further weakness in the currency, the ringgit.

ECONOMIST: Still sick and gloomy, now rebellious