Slide 6 of 12

The power centers of this new decentralized world will be its ever-expanding numbers of powerful cities, where, by 2025, some two thirds of the population will live.

Cities can become the locomotives of national development, pulling the rest of the economy along. But only if they create the right business climate with attractive services, amenities, and infrastructure.

Central governments can help this process by not favoring one city over another. Just as with private industry, where governments don’t have a great track record in picking winners, cities should be given the right overall urban policy climate and then be allowed to determine their own futures.