Providing a comprehensive yet compact survey of the growth of American economic influence in Europe since the 1880s, this book summarizes the discussion by business historians, sociologists, and political scientists and makes it accessible to all types of readers who are interested in political...

"All human societies, from prehistory through to today, have been characterized by some degree of economic inequality. Arguably, complex societies would not have thrived if they had been unable to concentrate and redistribute resources effectively. We frequently talk about the top 5% or 1% today...