It keeps the paper moving in an organisation that stretches from the western Atlantic to the Austrian Alps and from the Arctic Circle to Algarve.

BBC: By Europe Correspondent David Shukman

The IMF paper said moving the budget to balance would put the U.S. in a better position to deal with the massive fiscal pressures it will face as the baby boom generation starts to retire this decade, Reuters news agency reported.

CNN: IMF: U.S. needs to balance budget

The remaining 19 were asked to submerge their non-dominant hand into a bucket of warm water for 90 seconds, while moving paper clips one at a time between two boxes, to keep up the illusion of the task being related to physical capabilities.

ECONOMIST: Religion got it right: pain seems to assuage guilt