Leaders | Metropolitan growing pains

Little London

Britain’s capital needs to build more. Its would-be mayors are short on plans for making that happen

THERE are many ways to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. London’s economy makes Britain rich. If Britons were to vote on June 23rd to leave the European Union, London would suffer. But another problem is just as threatening. Soaring property prices are constraining London’s ability to foster new businesses and create jobs. The great city must overcome that problem if it intends to remain great.

The past two decades have been kind to the capital. It is growing by more than 100,000 new residents a year. Like other booming cities, including New York, London thrives amid globalisation and technological change, which boost both demand for its financial services and the market for its startups.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "Little London"

The prosperity puzzle

From the April 30th 2016 edition

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