Baroness Thatcher was undoubtedly a political phenomenon who drove a programme of modernisation in Britain that set the bar for all right-leaning governments that followed. And the economic legacy she left, both revered and reviled, still ripples across the world.
But for how much longer?
Certainly, euro zone ministers now trying to cut the massive debt of underperforming economies are looking to her example as they consider privatising inefficient state-owned companies. United States politicians are following her example as they seek to limit the powers of trade unions. And Baroness Thatcher and her ''Thatcherism'' allowed Rogernomics and Ruthenasia - the philosophies of former finance ministers Sir Roger Douglas and Ruth Richardson - to change the face of New Zealand.
The radical ideology of Baroness Thatcher have become the global norm, not dismissed out of hand easily as governments around the world find ways to fight the ongoing effects of the global financial crisis. Sell-offs of state-owned businesses are now a part of euro zone bail-out programmes. But Baroness Thatcher's economic influence outside Britain was most visible in Eastern Europe. After the fall of the Communist bloc at the end of her tenure, new leaders there made her a hero and embraced privatisation as the express route to capitalism.
She combined with former US president Ronald Reagan to hold fast against the communists and with Mr Reagan oversaw the triumph of conservative parties around the world.
The deregulation of the British financial markets saw the City of London become Europe's banking capital, and helped turn global finance into the swaggering industry it became for the past generation. With that came the excesses of banking bonuses and pay, but markets ruled for Baroness Thatcher.
Other industries faced the opposite fate on her watch. Her biggest battles were with coal miners, in a state-run sector that was already in rapid decline after Britain discovered cheaper, safer and cleaner offshore natural gas. When she took power in 1979, there were nearly 250,000 coal miners in Britain, sustaining communities that had known little else since the industrial revolution. When she left, there were barely 50,000 people still working in mines. Today, only a few thousand remain.
The key to her success in politics goes back to her humble beginnings when she saw no barriers in front of her. Her strength, she often said, came from her beloved husband Denis Thatcher, whom she married in 1951. He remained the rock on which she could rely for support during turbulent years.
The ''Iron Lady'' for many became the symbol of a proud Britain and, after she fought and won the Falklands War against long odds in 1982, her popularity was unassailable. Baroness Thatcher eventually fell out with her colleagues. She was replaced by John Major, a colourless figure in comparison.
It was no surprise when Tony Blair and Labour later swept to power, but it was surprising for many when Mr Blair maintained many of the ideals set in place by Baroness Thatcher. Indeed, the Third Age of Labour saw Mr Blair try and reconcile the right and left wing of British politics by combining right-wing economics with left-wing social policies.
British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday said it was with great sadness he learnt of the death of Baroness Thatcher.
''We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton.''
Not everyone acknowledged her death in the same warm spirit. Vitriolic comments flooded social media and a celebration party in Brixton, the British symbol of deep social divisions and racial tensions, quickly gathered pace.
While aspects of Thatcherism have loomed over the policies of many governments throughout the world during the past 30 years, it is thought her influence will not remain in global economics much longer. Around the world, the once-powerful middle class she so strongly defended and promoted has suffered from the policies she introduced. Those people are now looking for another way ahead.
