LOS ANGELES -- Think of the world economy as one huge ship with many passengers from all over and wildly varying tiers of service.
There's the top tier for those from wealthy nations; those from developing nations take the second level; and then there's the bargain basement for anyone unlucky enough to be born in a country that never seems to get off the ground.
Imagine further that in the absence of a drifting iceberg, what's capable of grounding this "good ship global economy" is either gross inattention to maintenance and safety, or the corrosive effects of many little leaks below while the big shots on the top deck are having a jolly good time.