THE COUNTRY WORLD IS IN THE VERY BEST OF HANDS: “Group of Seven finance chiefs vowed to tackle a ‘severe’ economic downturn that will persist for most of 2009 without spelling out new steps to do so. . . . The authorities are still at a loss on the best course of action 18 months after the credit crisis broke out. That’s left them pursuing a disjointed approach as the global economy deteriorates further and companies from Microsoft Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. cut jobs.”