In his current book, Michael Hartmann reveals who the elites of Europe are and who significantly influences European politics and economics. In addition to the three major EU countries—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—he also examines the elites from Italy, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and many other countries, including those in Eastern Europe. His findings indicate that national recruitment and advancement patterns still prevail. The origin and homogeneity of the elites are directly linked to social inequality. Generally, the more exclusive and homogeneous a national elite is, the greater the gap between the rich and the poor.