Summary:The Group of Twenty (G-20) is a multilateral forum for advancing international cooperation and coordination among 20 major advanced and emerging-market economies. The G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union (EU). The G-20 leaders typically meet annually (at "summits"), this year held on November 15-16 in Brisbane, Australia. Meetings among lower-level officials, including finance ministers and central bank governors, are scheduled throughout the year. Established in 1999, the G-20 rose to prominence during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 and is now the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Some analysts say the G-20's effectiveness has diminished as the urgency of the global financial crisis has waned. Others argue that the G-20 remains critical for discussing important policy initiatives across major countries and encouraging greater cooperation. For more on the G-20, see CRS Report R40977, The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress, by Rebecca M. Nelson.
