However, when, just a few days later, Gordon Brown set out the (questionable) arguments that underpin his belief that there is no model for delivering health care with equity and efficiency that is superior to the National Health Service, he was heard with something close to awe.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

For now, the cost burden of reshoring falls upon the private sector, with executives needing to compare upfront costs with operational efficiency, profitability and customer service yield.

FORBES: Why Outsourced Jobs Are Returning Stateside

Councillor Patsy Gilroy said she was impressed with the "energy and efficiency" of the authority's roads service.

BBC: Collapsed A708 Moffat to Selkirk road reopens to traffic

Even though both the companies missed market expectations in their latest quarterly results, Home Depot seems to have handled the difficult housing market and slow demand recovery better with successful cost-cutting and efficiency initiatives, store remodels, improved service and better pricing strategies.

FORBES: Lowe's Still Worth $34 Though Trails Home Depot's Recovery

Boeing actually offered the Army options for scaling back features a year ago that were rebuffed, but with the budgetary walls closing in the service is now moving out on a series of efficiency measures that could unravel the whole effort.

FORBES: New Radio Could Revolutionize Combat for U.S. Forces

Don't get us wrong -- we applaud RIM's efforts to officially enter into the dangerous world of 140-character social networking -- but when it comes to a integrating a service that can dominate your life with a device that's intended to simplify it, efficiency isn't just important, it's vital.

ENGADGET: Twitter for BlackBerry launches in private beta, we check it out