But is this the time to take billions of dollars out of the economy, eliminate government jobs when the unemployment rate is sliding?

FORBES: More At Stake Than Fiscal Cliff

But the rate has been sliding steadily downwards: it is expected to fall below 10% this year, and perhaps to 8.4% by 2001.

ECONOMIST: Something odd in France

The agencies assess their the ability to pay off loans or investments and then rate them on a sliding scale, ranging from AAA to D.

CNN: Explainer: The power of credit rating agencies

He introduced a sliding scale that made capital-gains tax highly complex, and then reversed himself, introducing a single rate of 18%.

ECONOMIST: Tax