The solution was paper shuffling.

ECONOMIST: French corporate governance

In other words, there is less mindless paper-shuffling and more dealing with customers, suppliers and other humans.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

If anything, the millions of rand poured into flashy, paper-shuffling empowerment deals has reduced the amount banks can spare for real black entrepreneurs.

ECONOMIST: Paper lions

And so Tam's only hedge is to keep scavenging for even more paper, shuffling along the city's streets and hoping that prices rise again.

CNN: European slowdown hits Hong Kong's paper paupers

At the weekend the prime minister's former policy guru Steve Hilton described how Downing Street was often kept out of the loop by "paper-shuffling" civil servants.

BBC: Does Whitehall still say Yes, Prime Minister?