Why is the world economy still so weak, and can anything more be done to accelerate growth?

Six years after the near-collapse of the global financial system and more than five years into one of the strongest bull markets in history, the answer still baffles policymakers, investors and business leaders.

Earlier this month another slew of disappointing figures came out from Europe and Japan, the weakest links in the world economy since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, despite the fact that the financial crisis originated in the United States.