No statistical measure influences current politics more than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Even in the 1930s, there were differing views in England and the USA on how to quantify economic processes. Only one of these methods, the precursor to GDP, proved effective during World War II as a planning and information tool and was established in the post-war period by the USA with all political power in the West as the standard. Along with the idea of growth, this method offered hope for a future of endless material wealth. Although it was intended to address only specific issues, GDP has since monopolized the perspective on economic relationships.