International Economic Relations after 1955

It is appropriate at this point to notice certain changes in the political relations which had taken place in the world economy during the first decade of peace. The power alignments and relationships which had emerged were in some cases discernible from the end of the war; others were new. In any event they were, in essence, to remain throughout the next fifteen years and were to have great influence on economic events. In order to sketch in the outlines on this very large canvas we give our attention in turn to (a) the global scene, (b) the pattern of the new Europe and (c) other changes not within the first two categories but important in themselves.