Of course, the extended aid did not obviate the need for sacrifice but it increased the size of the distributional pie available to the various interest groups. In my opinion, however, the most important channel through which the Marshall Plan contributed is through its conditionality, with which the US was able to exercise significant influence over the economic policies of Marshall aid recipients.
Although over the years the Plan has become synonymous with the substantial aid flows transferred from the US to Europe, it is useful to recall that before receiving that aid each recipient country had to sign a bilateral pact with the US.