Europe, a theme park while Dubai and Shanghai take over?
Europe's decline against the rise of Dubai and Shanghai: can Europe compete without giving up its heritage?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Europe, a theme park while Dubai and Shanghai take over?
"Is Europe doomed to fall behind while Dubai, Doha or Shanghai devour the future?" That question, increasingly common in economic analysis, sums up a growing concern: the center of gravity of development has shifted, and Europe seems stuck in the past.
The clash between heritage and growth
Some defend the value of cities like Prague, Lisbon or Florence: their appeal cannot be bought or improvised. But the opposing camp reminds us that economies do not run on postcards alone. The megacities of the Persian Gulf and China are growing at a staggering pace, building entire districts in a decade while in Europe every building permit becomes an ordeal.
The most pessimistic readings go as far as calling Europe "the future of underdevelopment", with the exception of London and, with reservations, Paris. The Nordic countries would be prosperous but lacking dynamism, sustained by small populations rather than entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The Dubai mirror
While Europe protects every historic facade, Dubai has no qualms about bulldozing the past. That may be a curse for growth or a blessing for identity; time will tell which of the two models endures. Europe wants to be both museum and powerhouse, an aspiration no one has ever managed to uphold without first setting the heritage on fire.
"Is Europe doomed to fall behind while Dubai, Doha or Shanghai devour the future?" That question, increasingly common in economic analysis, sums up a growing concern: the center of gravity of development has shifted, and Europe seems stuck in the past.
The clash between heritage and growth
Some defend the value of cities like Prague, Lisbon or Florence: their appeal cannot be bought or improvised. But the opposing camp reminds us that economies do not run on postcards alone. The megacities of the Persian Gulf and China are growing at a staggering pace, building entire districts in a decade while in Europe every building permit becomes an ordeal.
The most pessimistic readings go as far as calling Europe "the future of underdevelopment", with the exception of London and, with reservations, Paris. The Nordic countries would be prosperous but lacking dynamism, sustained by small populations rather than entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The Dubai mirror
While Europe protects every historic facade, Dubai has no qualms about bulldozing the past. That may be a curse for growth or a blessing for identity; time will tell which of the two models endures. Europe wants to be both museum and powerhouse, an aspiration no one has ever managed to uphold without first setting the heritage on fire.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (11 replies).
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