The extraordinary costs of the mergers, consisting largely of severance benefits for redundant personnel, came to € billion and were mostly charged to the accounts for 2006 and 2007. In order for customers to benefit from mergers and acquisitions, it is important that the increase in concentration not weaken competitive pressures.
This dividend was – and still is – significant, offering greater resources for investment, establishing peaceful scientific and technological advances, and allowing for a larger circulation of people, goods, services, technologies, and capital. Until the pandemic, globalization and technological progress have facilitated the strong reduction of extreme poverty, contributing to convergence in per capita income across countries.