Concerns that globalization leads to a dominance of US customs and values are also present with regard to films and the entertainment industry more broadly. This is the case with French films in France, for example. As will be discussed later in the brief, governments from countries like France have attempted to intervene in the functioning of the market to try to protect their local cultural industries, by taking measures such as restricting the number of foreign films that can be shown. But if a government imposes domestic films, TV shows, or books onto its people, it limits their choice to consume what they prefer. In other words, the government is effectively saying that it does not trust its people to make the choices that are right for them. Throughout history, cultures have changed and evolved. Globalization may accelerate cultural change. However, because change is driven by the choice of consumers, the elements of a particular culture will inevitably reflect consumer choice. The Dominance of the American Market Why is the American market so dominant within the force of globalization? The United States can be seen to play such a prominent role in cultural globalization for a number of reasons: 1. The size of the U.S. market. With nearly 300 million consumers, the United States is one of the largest markets in the world. When a company has access to the U.S. market and these 300 million people, it can take advantage of economies of scale. 2. The wealth of the U.S. economy. Although the United States contains only four percent of the world's population, it accounts for nearly 25 percent of global economic output. The combined effects of being one of the richest countries in the world and one of the largest in terms of population put the U.S. market in a dominant position. Only the European Union now exceeds the U.S. market in size and wealth