This comparative analysis of New York and London provides an introduction to these pre-eminent world cities. Seeming at times to mirror each other across the Atlantic, New York and London stand at the apex of their respective national hierarchies, as economic and cultural capitals, and occupy similarly commanding positions within the world economy. Having experienced decline in the 1970s and renewal in the 1980s, both cities once again face decline in the 1990s, exhibiting ever-widening social divisions.

A new conventional wisdom, spanning academic and policy communities, sees a combination of economic competitiveness, social cohesion and responsive governance as essential for survival in the post-1980s world - and cities as crucial to achieving these goals. This interdisciplinary text provides the first critical examination of these ideas, drawing on the UK Cities research programme and other recent research. It combines analysis of the competitiveness-cohesion-governance problematic with examination of the major processes underlying key sectors of the urban economy, physical development,...