most paper here in the u.s. is standard size
(for notebooks, computer printers, etc.)
8 1/2 " X 11" (or "legal" size = 8 1/2 X 14"--
guess that's cuz lawyers need more space cuz they use
more words to say the same thing??)
i noticed that some copies sent me recently from UK
were different size and did not fit in my note book..

i think there is an office of standardization that
decides on these sizes. At least in Sweden there is.

probably other countries too, but no standardization
between countries, apparantly.