This work investigates the structural causes and political consequences of surplus capacity in global industries during periods of economic recession. The authors, Susan Strange and Roger Tooze, utilize the framework of international political economy to analyze how states and corporations compete for market shares when supply exceeds demand. By examining the intersection of market forces and state policy, the text argues that surplus capacity is not merely an economic problem but a fundamental challenge to the stability of the international order.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to the study of international political economy, particularly for its focus on the structural tensions inherent in global trade. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and its value as a foundational analysis of state-market relations during economic downturns.