United Kingdom, France and Germany. The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain, spread rapidly across Europe, and before long the entire continent was at a high level of industry. World War I briefly led to the industries of some European states stalling, but in the run-up to World War II Europe recovered well and was competing with the ever-increasing economic might of the United States of America. However, World War II caused the destruction of most of Europe's industrial centres and much of the continent's infrastructure was laid to waste. 1945–1992: The Cold War era Following World War II, European governments were in tatters. Many non-Socialist European governments moved to link their economies, laying the foundation for what would become the European Union. This meant a huge increase in shared infrastructure and cross-border trade. Whilst these European states rapidly improved their economies, by the 1980s, the economy of the COMECON was struggling, mainly due to the massive cost of the Cold War. The GDP and the living standards of Central and Eastern European states were lower than in other parts of Europe. The European Community grew from 6 original members following World War II, to 12 in this period. Average living standards in Europe rose significantly during the post-war period, as characterised by these findings: Per capita private consumption (PPSs) in 1980 Luxembourg: 5495 France: 5395 Germany, Federal Republic: 5319 Belgium: 5143 Denmark: 4802 Netherlands: 4792 United Kingdom: 4343 Italy: 4288 Ireland: 3029 Per capita personal disposable income (PPSs) in 1980 Belgium: 6202 France: 6044 Germany, Federal Republic: 5661 Netherlands: 5490 Italy: 5378 Denmark: 4878 United Kingdom (UK): 4698 Rise of the European Union When the 'Eastern Bloc' dissolved around 1992, these states struggled to adapt to free-market systems. There was, however, a huge variation in degrees of success, with Central European states such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland adapting reasonably quickly, whilst states that used to form the USSR such as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine struggled to reform their crumbling infrastructures. Many developed European countries were quick to develop economic ties with fellow European states, where democracy was reintroduced. After the Revolutions of 1989, states in Central Europe and the Baltic states dealt with change, former Yugoslavian republics descended into war and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are still struggling with their old systems. Europe's largest economy, Germany, struggled upon unification in 1991 with former communist