Poorer states urge economic solidarity

US - At last year's gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there was acknowledgment the global economy stood on the brink of recession.

Policy makers and economic experts at the time expressed belief the downturn would be short and a rapid recovery would follow.

But then 11 September happened.

As the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell, so did hopes the US economy would rebound quickly, and fears of a massive global slowdown followed.

A year later, members attendi