How single cities grow to dominate global finance

Seán Keyes looks at how the world's financial capitals develop, and how power can shift from one place to the next with remarkable ease.

Some of the greatest cities in history have also served as the great global financial capitals: Florence, Amsterdam, London, New York.

But how does a single city - or a handful of them - get to be at the heart of the financial system? And how do they lose this grip?

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

Sean Keys graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a BA in economics and political science and, in 2009, from University College Dublin with an MA in economics. His MA thesis was on the likely effects of deficient eurozone governance structures.