The ugly phrase "fiscal cliff" has stuck, but it is more like a ticking economic timebomb.

BBC: America's fiscal suicide pact

In the meantime, the funding gap for Spain's autonomous regions continues to tick like a timebomb.

CNN: First relief in Spain...then reflection

So what about the thirty year timebomb currently stored up by two generations of bad eating habits?

FORBES: Winning in the World of On-Demand Innovation: America and The Open Innovation Market

This is the so-called demographic timebomb, which means there will be increasing numbers of pensioners in coming decades and fewer workers to support and look after them.

BBC: Should wealthy pensioners get benefits?

This would make a start in tackling a problem he described as an "unexploded timebomb" and was part of efforts to rebuild the military covenant between the government and the armed forces regarding their welfare.

BBC: Liam Fox says future defence cuts are Labour's fault

And a demographic timebomb is ticking.

ECONOMIST: Productivity growth