<p><em>Following a period of economic boom, a financial bubble &mdash; global in  scope &mdash; burst, even causing some of the world&rsquo;s largest financial  institutions have collapsed. With the resulting recession, many  governments of the wealthiest nations in the world have resorted to  extensive bail-out and rescue packages for the remaining large banks and  financial institutions while imposing harsh austerity measures on  themselves.</em></p>