European Cities, Global Fluency Greg Clark Global Fellow, Brookings Institution Trustee, Centre for London London, 29 th October

Europe’s cities: how have we got here? The Return of the Blue Banana? Unique history of international trade and exchange , Western European trading and labour integration. Amsterdam-Milan-Paris triangle , post oil-crisis adjustment services; London and Paris move ahead 1992 Single EU Market More competition in enlarged city system Today, 80 European metropolitan areas > 500,000.

Europe’s cities: the situation today Unusually polycentric regional system, gradually changing. Smaller cities are struggling to achieve productivity. Investment into European cities is increasingly global. Precious assets, but sources of growth momentum have changed permanently.

Europe’s cities: measuring performance London and Paris have increased their advantage. Strong second tier ‘middleweights’ in Western Europe. High-performing national systems. Challenged regions and the youth unemployment crisis. Rise of Istanbul and Moscow.

Europe’s cities: retained strengths Globally compelling image. Capacity to attract investors. Relatively resilient transport and infrastructure systems at whole city level. Cultural and educational assets.

Europe’s cities strategies World citiesLondon, Paris, Istanbul, Moscow Established regional leadersAmsterdam, Munich, Stockholm Techno-polesHelsinki, Stuttgart, Turin Revived post-industrial citiesBarcelona, Lyon, Manchester, Warsaw Institutional centresBrussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Oslo, Vienna, Zurich Green citiesFreiburg, Copenhagen, Bristol, Hamburg Cities in transitionOstrava, Leipzig, Genoa, Donetsk

10 Traits of Global Fluency: international version US Version: tackled US domestic path dependency. Int Version : aimed at 3 kinds of city: Established cities in developed nations Challenges of demography, diversification, infrastructure, competition Larger cities in emerging economies New junction boxes of global economy Cities recovering from long-term political turmoil or ‘regime change’ New phase of open-ness after totalitarianism, conflict, instability or corruption.

Defining Global Fluency “The level of global understanding, competence, practice, and reach a metropolitan area exhibits in an increasingly interconnected world economy.” Inherited factors: assets and relationships gained unconsciously. Intentional factors: deliberate leadership, coordination and engagement. Stages of Global Fluency: 1.Globally Aware can read the global market, but unable to speak or listen fluently. 2.Globally Oriented broadly connected to global markets, global vocabulary, more intentional. 3.Globally Fluent Intuitive proficiency to recognise opportunities and manage costs.

Why Global Fluency? New pathways into globalisation: Greater global integration Cities’ production and consumption patterns part of dynamic global supply chains. Rapid expansion of a global consumer class Changing geography of export and services opportunities. Rapid urbanisation 300 metropolitan areas account for half of global GDP. Global engagement in pursuit of global fluency has become essential for all places. BUT The way cities first became international may no longer be the best path to pursue.

Promises of Global Fluency Better awareness of, and preparation for, global forces. Improved export capability to international markets. Attract more foreign investment from international firms and institutions. Leverage more visitors and students. Boost human capital by attracting migrants at all skill levels. Shared innovation in international networks.

Global Fluency: managing the costs Risks and externalities of metropolitan globalisation: “Two speed” metropolitan economy Effect of multinational firms on local innovation. Inflationary effects Integration of diverse population Adjusting to new needs as economy changes – diversification. Retaining political consensus. Global fluency means vigilance about skills, infrastructure, planning, housing, supply chains, metropolitan governance, public discourse. Governance premium of globalising metros.

Role of national governments Evidence of more active national governments, esp. in middle-income countries and emerging world cities. Investment, regulatory reform, and promotion Drives for transparency, structural reform, and strategic vision Incentivising growth in urban cores and planned metropolitan areas Some challenges need national policy responses Balance between promoting the city and managing the nation? The system of cities. How to assist people disadvantaged by exposure to global markets? How to find suitable roles for struggling cities?

Compelling Brand Identity

The 10 Traits: caveats Successful cities integrate several traits. - few, if any, excel in all 10. The relative strength of each trait evolves over time. Today’s intentional efforts become tomorrow’s inherited traits. Global fluency is the sum of accumulated characteristics over 5+ business cycles. Going global also means support for local markets and local strengths.

Cities to enter a global path Antwerp, Genoa, Istanbul, Venice Amsterdam, Guangzhou, London, New York Berlin, Paris Bilbao, Liverpool Manchester, Rotterdam, Vienna Munich, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto Bangalore, Barcelona, Chicago, Sydney, Tel Aviv 2010-Colombo, Nanjing, Brisbane, Sao Paulo….

Pathways to globalisation Familiar 3-phase sequence for cities: 1.Acquire or develop 1 or 2 of the 10 traits in sufficient depth or critical mass. 2.Over years, leverage initial traits and acquire others. 3.Mature and extend existing traits, accumulate new ones. Initial traits wane, others come to the fore. The further into globalization, the more catalysing traits become vulnerable. Role of leaders in public or private sector is key.

Pathway 1: ‘multi-cycle trade cities’ eg. London, Zurich, Hamburg:, Amsterdam 1.Historic trading hubs, with strategic location and political stability 2.Acquired more political autonomy; commercial leadership ensures infrastructure upgrades; gain ‘safe haven’ reputation 3.High skills pool, role of HE; global brand of professionalism; open-ness

Pathway 2: ‘post WW2 opportunity cities’ eg. Munich, Singapore, Toronto: 1.Achieved regional consensus around global positioning; benefit from change in global and national power balance 2.Targeted specializations, backed by regional investment in infrastructure. 3.Diversified finance + R&D roles; manages integration well; need govt. alignment.

Pathway 3: ‘new knowledge cities’ eg. Bangalore, Nanjing, Tel Aviv: 1.Originally local knowledge centres, linked to national military/scientific institutions. 2.Gain experience providing basic services for foreign firms; build clusters well-suited to new generation of technology; strong business climate initiatives. 3.Complemented with liveability, strategic city leadership.

Pathway 4: ‘attractive cities’ eg. Barcelona, Cape Town, Sydney: 1.Distinctive identity embedded in city’s DNA. Internationalisation often starts with Tourism. 2.Political freedom for pragmatic leaderships to sell cultural attributes, grow foreign air/port links. 3.Adapt to new markets; manage social and infrastructural costs; develop metropolitan governance.

Expectations Increased global integration - more globalising cities. More and different paths to global leadership and more competitive niches. More attention to both paths to success and externalities and risks. European system of cities emerging more strongly through global drivers.