Of course, these social phenomena are both symptoms of and contributors to economic circumstances, a vicious cycle that requires a structural solution at the policy level.

FORBES: Bringing Microfinance to America may be harder than you think

Concerns now are more closely linked to mid-cycle economic management than structural problems, like in the US with its jobless recovery ( Brazil hired more people this year than the US).

FORBES: The New Safe Haven (No Speak English)

"The taskforce recognises that our High Streets are going through a structural recalibration, rather than an economic cycle from which we will emerge over time, " he said.

BBC: High Street taskforce aims to to rejuvenate retail

"The central bank is unlikely to embark on an aggressive easing cycle if they are not convinced that the structural constraints have been addressed, " said Radhika Rao, economist at DBS bank.

BBC: India cuts interest rates for third time this year

Long-run growth rates are driven by structural factors not monetary policy, which mainly affects output over the cycle.

ECONOMIST: Alan Greenspan

But macroeconomic belt-tightening at an awkward point in the business cycle is an entirely different matter from the painful, structural, microeconomic reforms that are needed to create jobs.

ECONOMIST: Europe isn��t working