It's that time of year again when the richest nations in the world gather to discuss themes ranging from the slumping economy to global warming.

But impotence is not an option this year in L'Aquila, Italy, as leaders must bring the efforts against the economic crisis to a climax.

"Heads of state will probably claim that the first stage of the recovery is over and discuss measures to move on to the next phase," Yoshiyasu Ono, an economics professor at Osaka University, told The Japan Times.