Yunze Wang
@yz18.bsky.social
Analyst at Centre for Cities. Housing, economic development and cool statistics. I like news and desserts. Views my own.
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A bit late but really loved this. Think a lot of people r essentially organizing themselves by their opposition to liberalism rather than left/right. We have been late to recognize that fault line.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
November 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A bit late but really loved this. Think a lot of people r essentially organizing themselves by their opposition to liberalism rather than left/right. We have been late to recognize that fault line.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
So, in no way am I the worst affected, but… shocking that they have not thought about earning potential over life time. This would basically make it very hard for young professionals to settle.
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
So, in no way am I the worst affected, but… shocking that they have not thought about earning potential over life time. This would basically make it very hard for young professionals to settle.
Fair to say many of their issues are not their own doing. But a few things are.
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
November 18, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Fair to say many of their issues are not their own doing. But a few things are.
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
Not just national. The local data quality is also not ideal. And their response was to cancel a bunch of them.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Not just national. The local data quality is also not ideal. And their response was to cancel a bunch of them.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
Just want to say I am in a similar situation and headspace, so u r not alone. One hopes all will eventually be alright
November 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Just want to say I am in a similar situation and headspace, so u r not alone. One hopes all will eventually be alright
Being a council library user has honestly generated a stupid amount of good will in me towards my local authority.
It feels like such a juvenile thing to say, but people like fun things, and they like a state that gives fun things.
It feels like such a juvenile thing to say, but people like fun things, and they like a state that gives fun things.
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Being a council library user has honestly generated a stupid amount of good will in me towards my local authority.
It feels like such a juvenile thing to say, but people like fun things, and they like a state that gives fun things.
It feels like such a juvenile thing to say, but people like fun things, and they like a state that gives fun things.
In my age group, people’s interaction with the state is generally to deal with unpleasant things (council complaints, etc..). They just accept that taxes r something done to them rather than for them.
So I can see why many r against broad-based tax rises, even if I disagree with them.
So I can see why many r against broad-based tax rises, even if I disagree with them.
November 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
In my age group, people’s interaction with the state is generally to deal with unpleasant things (council complaints, etc..). They just accept that taxes r something done to them rather than for them.
So I can see why many r against broad-based tax rises, even if I disagree with them.
So I can see why many r against broad-based tax rises, even if I disagree with them.
The same logic as telling people to find jobs, but also saying "young people should not have to move far from their towns to find work."
Both sentiments are somewhat understandable. But they pull in different directions.
Both sentiments are somewhat understandable. But they pull in different directions.
November 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The same logic as telling people to find jobs, but also saying "young people should not have to move far from their towns to find work."
Both sentiments are somewhat understandable. But they pull in different directions.
Both sentiments are somewhat understandable. But they pull in different directions.
My experience is that many want to think of growth and redistribution as one task. When in reality, it is possible to support them as two related but distinct sets of agendas.
November 12, 2025 at 12:49 AM
My experience is that many want to think of growth and redistribution as one task. When in reality, it is possible to support them as two related but distinct sets of agendas.
The most recent local data (2023) already showed the construction sector output falling across the South.
It would not be surprising if, after even more negative shocks, the sector is currently in full recession.
It would not be surprising if, after even more negative shocks, the sector is currently in full recession.
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The most recent local data (2023) already showed the construction sector output falling across the South.
It would not be surprising if, after even more negative shocks, the sector is currently in full recession.
It would not be surprising if, after even more negative shocks, the sector is currently in full recession.
Also a lot of urban young professionals have limited interactions with public or collective spaces.
I use a library frequently. Most of my friends have not thought about public libraries for years.
Many r disconnected from public spaces, and that shapes views on taxes as a contribution to them.
I use a library frequently. Most of my friends have not thought about public libraries for years.
Many r disconnected from public spaces, and that shapes views on taxes as a contribution to them.
November 7, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Also a lot of urban young professionals have limited interactions with public or collective spaces.
I use a library frequently. Most of my friends have not thought about public libraries for years.
Many r disconnected from public spaces, and that shapes views on taxes as a contribution to them.
I use a library frequently. Most of my friends have not thought about public libraries for years.
Many r disconnected from public spaces, and that shapes views on taxes as a contribution to them.
A lot of narrative spins seem to be "big developers should just cross-subsidise affordable housing and be happy with it."
As if the construction sector in London is not experiencing enough steep losses already. The data is practically showing the sector in a mini-recession.
As if the construction sector in London is not experiencing enough steep losses already. The data is practically showing the sector in a mini-recession.
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A lot of narrative spins seem to be "big developers should just cross-subsidise affordable housing and be happy with it."
As if the construction sector in London is not experiencing enough steep losses already. The data is practically showing the sector in a mini-recession.
As if the construction sector in London is not experiencing enough steep losses already. The data is practically showing the sector in a mini-recession.
Mandating affordable housing in private development is just not the way.
The construction sector is practically in recession in London. Demanding it to cross-subsidise affordable in this context would mean no housing at all, and that is not helpful to anyone.
The construction sector is practically in recession in London. Demanding it to cross-subsidise affordable in this context would mean no housing at all, and that is not helpful to anyone.
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Mandating affordable housing in private development is just not the way.
The construction sector is practically in recession in London. Demanding it to cross-subsidise affordable in this context would mean no housing at all, and that is not helpful to anyone.
The construction sector is practically in recession in London. Demanding it to cross-subsidise affordable in this context would mean no housing at all, and that is not helpful to anyone.
This!! We need more urban density. That Peckham mostly has low-level development is an argument for more, not less, tower blocks.
On infrastructure, it is next to an overground station, and the local school is not over capacity by any means, so not sure what the complaint even is here.
On infrastructure, it is next to an overground station, and the local school is not over capacity by any means, so not sure what the complaint even is here.
November 4, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This!! We need more urban density. That Peckham mostly has low-level development is an argument for more, not less, tower blocks.
On infrastructure, it is next to an overground station, and the local school is not over capacity by any means, so not sure what the complaint even is here.
On infrastructure, it is next to an overground station, and the local school is not over capacity by any means, so not sure what the complaint even is here.
Second, if these cities do start to take off, expect them to become more different from each other. One can already see this in the current data.
Devolution would provide a framework to manage these differences. More local decision power means more tailored policies to support each city's path.
Devolution would provide a framework to manage these differences. More local decision power means more tailored policies to support each city's path.
October 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Second, if these cities do start to take off, expect them to become more different from each other. One can already see this in the current data.
Devolution would provide a framework to manage these differences. More local decision power means more tailored policies to support each city's path.
Devolution would provide a framework to manage these differences. More local decision power means more tailored policies to support each city's path.
Two key things.
First, the data on this is new. So there is a lot of uncertainty. And even if the data is genuine, we should probably wait before declaring it a sustainable trend.
First, the data on this is new. So there is a lot of uncertainty. And even if the data is genuine, we should probably wait before declaring it a sustainable trend.
October 22, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Two key things.
First, the data on this is new. So there is a lot of uncertainty. And even if the data is genuine, we should probably wait before declaring it a sustainable trend.
First, the data on this is new. So there is a lot of uncertainty. And even if the data is genuine, we should probably wait before declaring it a sustainable trend.
When broken down to sectors, most post-2019 growth in these place, and the cause of their relatively strength, is in the knowledge economy.
This is a good thing: these are the industries big cities should have an advantage in. These cities had not tapped into that advantage well in recent history.
This is a good thing: these are the industries big cities should have an advantage in. These cities had not tapped into that advantage well in recent history.
October 22, 2025 at 10:47 AM
When broken down to sectors, most post-2019 growth in these place, and the cause of their relatively strength, is in the knowledge economy.
This is a good thing: these are the industries big cities should have an advantage in. These cities had not tapped into that advantage well in recent history.
This is a good thing: these are the industries big cities should have an advantage in. These cities had not tapped into that advantage well in recent history.
What this means is that there is more uncertainty in the post-2019 productivity data than usual, even if the broader story of large cities catching up could be genuine. A lot more data is needed (and some improvement to LFS) before we can be certain.
October 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
What this means is that there is more uncertainty in the post-2019 productivity data than usual, even if the broader story of large cities catching up could be genuine. A lot more data is needed (and some improvement to LFS) before we can be certain.
The labour input data is particularly notable since there been growing concerns about LFS (which feeds into productivity). Specifically, there is a substantial decline in self-employment. And this is largely not corroborated by other data sources (e.g. HMRC).
October 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The labour input data is particularly notable since there been growing concerns about LFS (which feeds into productivity). Specifically, there is a substantial decline in self-employment. And this is largely not corroborated by other data sources (e.g. HMRC).
The interesting thing here is that the productivity growth in many large cities is driven by both growth in output and stagnation, if not decline, in labour inputs (jobs or hours worked). This combination of expanding economy and lagging labour market is not unheard of but it is unusual.
October 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The interesting thing here is that the productivity growth in many large cities is driven by both growth in output and stagnation, if not decline, in labour inputs (jobs or hours worked). This combination of expanding economy and lagging labour market is not unheard of but it is unusual.