However, all regions have made gains in cutting rates.
Where the Labour government entered office pledging to "think the unthinkable" on welfare spending, and to redistribute the gains from "cutting the costs of economic and social failure", it has found no hidden treasures through either of those efforts.
America has quickly capitalised on its military gains, sharply cutting down its contentious, 13-year troop presence in Saudi Arabia, and continuing to apply pressure for reforms across the region.
If India had wanted to present itself as more business-friendly, it could have already notched up some easy gains by cutting corporation tax from 30% (higher than in most countries) and simplifying a tax code riddled with exemptions that allows authorities to gouge companies at will.
Promoters of the change say the rules, which were approved by the 27 member nations of the European Union in 2008, should lead airlines to speed up adoption of greener technologies at a time when air traffic, which represents about 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is growing much faster than efficiency gains are cutting those emissions.
After years of unexpectedly large returns from city pension fund investments, thanks to the rise in the stock market, the city took advantage of those gains by cutting its payments -- amounting to $800 million over two years -- to the pension fund system.
By 9 July, his ground forces had made significant gains in cutting off a vital road that connected Kaunas to Daugavpils.
Over the last few decades, Native Americans have made important gains in cutting poverty rates and unemployment while increasing their educational levels.
But incredibly, progress is being made, according to the United Nations' new report -- progress that includes "big gains in cutting the rate of extreme poverty, getting children into primary schools, addressing AIDS, malaria and child health, and a good chance to reach the target for access to clean drinking water".
