The word “decouple” resurfaces frequently in European financial markets – especially since the creation of the European Union and cross-border integration within Europe. It’s a wistful word, actually, meant to suggest that Europe can have an economic life of its own, “decoupled” from Wall Street. Germany may well be dominating Europe economically, but it’s no match for Wall Street. Such emotional instability runs counter to the American way, including the American way of political transition, something Europeans witnessed first-hand during the Bush-Gore election when ballots and hanging chads were counted and re-counted in Florida and it appeared the country’s leadership was in question. Europeans marveled then at the American way of transition.

Source: Forbes January 20, 2017 01:32 UTC