The financial system is in the grips of its most violent
upheaval since the 1930s. A staggering amount of wealth has been
destroyed this year — $11 trillion wiped out from world stock
markets in the past nine months. The damage already is spilling
into the real economy, and fears are spreading among investors
of a deep and damaging downturn.

Macroscope is a new blog where Reuters journalists from
around the world look behind the headlines, the speeches and the
economic reports to bring you a fresh look at the factors
driving the world economy, and the people making the decisions that affect
your household budget.

It will look at the policymakers who are ripping up the rule books
in a desperate search for ways to get cash pumping through the seized-up money markets,
stabilise banks, revive stock markets and prevent the credit
crisis from turning an economic downturn in the United States
and Europe into a deeply damaging global recession.

This weekend, Reuters has 20 of its most experienced
economic journalists in Washington, reporting on efforts by the
world’s richest nations to find solutions. Officials are holding
crisis sessions at the G7 and International Monetary Fund annual
meetings there. Macroscope gives an inside look at what’s going on, and what it means.

Stella Dawson

Global Treasury Editor