THE credit crisis was kind to the reputation of John Maynard Keynes, whose scribbling s from over 70 years ago inspired practical men of action to fight the recession with uninhibited stimulus.

Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004, with real GDP rising by 8 percent, by far the economy "s best performance since 2000."

Stevens's move comes a day before the U. S. Federal Reserve meets to consider pumping additional stimulus into the world's largest economy.