Members of the G-8 nations (Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States) met in Leece, Italy, yesterday to discuss the state of world affairs. The main topic on the table was whether they should end their stimulus efforts and let world economies float their own boats.
The meeting, which Russian finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, described as "stormy," concluded with agreement that there would be no immediate end to the stimulus programs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner indicated that the U.S. had no intention of moving toward a tighter policy. He said, "it's too early to shift toward a policy of restraint." It must be noted that the more fiscally conservative governments of Germany and Canada favored ending the stimulus programs as soon as they are no longer needed.



