1.   And the high returns in the regions come with considerable risk, including the risk that political coalitions will collapse and economic growth will sputter.

2.   At the same time, U.S. exports, whose growth has sputtered since early spring, declined.

3.   But more recently growth has sputtered and a series of corruption scandals has tainted the reputation of business and political leaders.

4.   U.S. exports, whose growth has sputtered since early spring, declined, while imports rose, fueled by the strength of the domestic economy.