Group of 22 (G22)

Categories: Econ, International

In the 1960s, there was a rock band called Jefferson Airplane. They had a series of hits, like "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit;" they played at Woodstock, and generally had a good run. Eventually, the band kind of petered out in the early 1970s.

In the mid-1970s, members of Airplane formed a group called Jefferson Starship. They also had a pretty good run, all things considered. However, by the mid-1980s, a lawsuit brought by some of the original Jefferson Airplane members forced the band to change its name again.

This time, the group became Starship. Under that moniker, the band released "We Built This City," the worst rock song in history (some would argue).

So...from Jefferson Airplane to Jefferson Starship to Starship, with members shifting in and out the whole time over the course of several decades.

Which brings us to the G22. In the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship scenario, the G22 represents the Jefferson Airplane situation. The original version.

It was set up in the late 1990s as a organizing concept that brought together the world's largest and most influential economic powers. This group eventually evolved into the G20, the Starship version still going today.

See: Group of 20 (G20). See: Group of 8 (G8).

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