- Destruction of infrastructure, housing and industrial capacity.
- Increased government debt and inflation.
- Loss of human capital, both through death and displacement.
- Disruption of international trade.
Political consequences:
- Rise of communism in Eastern Europe.
- Decolonization of Africa and Asia.
- Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Social effects:
- Increased social mobility.
- Increased role for women in the workforce.
- Baby boom.
Cultural changes:
- Increased secularization.
- Rise of consumerism.
- Spread of American popular culture.