Not booty and glory define the stakes, but questions such as: "Who determines currency parities?"

Both companies have been criticized for taking advantage of currency parity, and keeping consumers from realizing the actual cost of items.

Since economic adjustments can no longer be made by changing currency parities, the risk of them being made through employment or salary levels should not be underestimated.

Because of the euro, Europe has also entered a period of financial tranquillity compared with the recent past, when nation after nation kept interest rates damagingly high to maintain currency parity with the German mark.