And CBO under Elmendorf published reports saying higher taxes would improve economic performance.

FORBES: The Budget: Republican Sellout Watch

Scotland had seen its economic performance improve over the years despite spending 40% less per person than Wales.

BBC: Welsh Conservatives debate on the economy

All told, Britain's economic performance didn't improve markedly post-Thatcher, says Alan Booth, an economic historian at the University of Exeter.

WSJ: Thatcher's Economic Overhauls Still Debated

Poland's economic performance could improve further if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment.

FORBES: #33 Poland

President Obama saw an important opportunity for the Federal Government to lead by example when he issued Executive Order 13514 directing agencies to meet ambitious sustainability goals in our operations that will improve the government's environmental, energy and economic performance, reduce pollution, and save taxpayer dollars in avoided energy costs.

WHITEHOUSE: Energy and Environment Latest News | The White House

Four professional bodies - the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society - say that while human enhancement technologies might improve our performance and aid society, their use raise serious ethical, philosophical, regulatory and economic issues.

BBC: Concern over 'souped up' human race

The finance minister believes his country is well placed should the eurozone's economic prospects improve, or even if they weaken, saying that scenario helps Poland's export performance.

CNN: Poland wants to join eurozone 'as soon as it's safe'

At the heart of this issue is Inclusive Competitiveness the practice of metrics and strategies to improve the performance of diverse populations within innovation ecosystems, emerging industry clusters and other areas critical to economic competitiveness.

FORBES: Inclusion: The Missing Link In Economic Competitiveness