# Capital of the World: London or New York **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754 "2011-12-10T18:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/101 "2011-12-18T16:47:18Z")
A New York Minute New York, New York New York Stock Exchange UN at home in New York And most importantly: Seinfeld Bagels Cheesecake USA ! USA ! ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/102 "2011-12-18T17:29:40Z")
> [@Bibliothecarius](#): > > New York. Reason: The Americanization of the world. We are posting this on an American invention and no matter where you are in the world, chances are you’re not too far from somewhere you can buy McDonald’s and a Coke, or Starbuck’s (unless, maybe, you live on a mountain in the Himalayas or something) and even if you didn’t speak a word of English, you would be far more likely to recognize a picture of, say, Elvis or Michael Jackson, than you would the Beatles or David Beckham. I had a Yugoslavian friend in high school who learned English as a child not from school but from watching MTV in Serbia. > If you know a place in Mongolia where they have a chain of restaurants selling scones and steak and kidney pie, _then_ we’ll talk London. 😉 And the day you can walk into a mud hut in Africa and find someone who supports the Yankees, you can count that as a point for New York- but it happens with UK football teams (I will _not_ call it ‘soccer’, and you can’t make me, so there). Mostly Man United, but I’ve seen Arsenal and Chelsea shirts- London based teams- in the weirdest locations. Even met an Indonesian guy, living in Malaysia, who was a fanatical Wolverhampton fan. That was weird- it’s hard enough finding them in England. :dubious: Oh, and I know it’s beside the point, but I think you’re wrong on Beckham too- after a surreal experience in backcountry Kenya, when small children who were supposed to be herding cattle were running after us shouting ‘Daveed Beckham’, I’m not going to underestimate his global popularity. It was during the World Cup, but still… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/103 "2011-12-18T18:55:42Z")
Sorry tried to read my way through all of the pages, but didn’t make it. Comparisons on the financial front are silly, the City of London and Wall Street are not so much friends but identical twins, they both have facilities that store all relevant info that would be destroyed in the event of an outrage, if London goes down then all their transactions are safely stored in N.Y. and likewise. But N.Y. recently lost its AAA status, London still has it. Otherwise its Chalk and Cheese. London has been around for a couple of thousand years, N.Y. was made what it is by Brits… You don’t compare the dad to the son. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/104 "2011-12-18T19:13:03Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > No one person “invented the internet”, and I would say that most of the important work was done in the USA. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/105 "2011-12-18T19:25:42Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Cite? > **[ARPANET](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET)** > > Early research and development: > Merging the networks and creating the Internet: > Commercialization, privatization, broader access leads to the modern Internet: ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/106 "2011-12-18T19:29:26Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Cite? The world wide web was invented by a Brit scientist at Cerne, who donated it free. Sorry ~Yanks ,Us Brits invented the Internet , hope it doesn’t hurt your self esteem to much,Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/107 "2011-12-18T19:31:01Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > The world wide web was invented by a Brit scientist at Cerne, who donated it free. > Sorry ~Yanks ,Us Brits invented the Internet , hope it doesn’t hurt your self esteem to much,Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. The world wide web isn’t the entirety of the internet! ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/108 "2011-12-18T20:19:44Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Oh, and I know it’s beside the point, but I think you’re wrong on Beckham too- after a surreal experience in backcountry Kenya, when small children who were supposed to be herding cattle were running after us shouting ‘Daveed Beckham’, I’m not going to underestimate his global popularity. It was during the World Cup, but still… 🆒 Meh. That’s a distraction in my opinion. Beckham isn’t in London, and Jackson and Presley certainly aren’t in New York. For that matter, Internet arguments certainly don’t revolve around either city, either. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/109 "2011-12-18T20:22:50Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > A New York Minute > New York, New York > New York Stock Exchange > UN at home in New York Dunno what that is, that’s just it’s address, NYSE has been shown it loses to London’s, but the last is, I agree, a very solid point. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/110 "2011-12-18T20:40:35Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > And the day you can walk into a mud hut in Africa and find someone who supports the Yankees, you can count that as a point for New York- but it happens with UK football teams (I will _not_ call it ‘soccer’, and you can’t make me, so there). Mostly Man United, but I’ve seen Arsenal and Chelsea shirts- London based teams- in the weirdest locations. > > Even met an Indonesian guy, living in Malaysia, who was a fanatical Wolverhampton fan. That was weird- it’s hard enough finding them in England. :dubious: Case in point – I’m a Leeds United fan (yes, I _ **know** _!! :mad: :o), but definitely not a Yankees (nor a Knicks) fan! Red Sox and Celtics all the way, baby! 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gulfstream\_Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/51bf81/32.png) [@Gulfstream\_Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulfstream_Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/111 "2012-02-01T05:57:46Z")
GDP New York - 1.43 Trillion London - 565 Billion Billionaires New York - 59 London - 41 Millionaires New York - 771,000 London - 295,000 Fortune Global 500 Companies New York 28 London 17 - source: Capgemini, Forbes Is there any major economic metric in which London beats New York? I don’t think so. New York all the way. Its the most powerful city and the capital of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/112 "2012-02-01T07:42:31Z")
I think we should build a new capital of the world, in a location equally accessible (or inaccessible, if you want to look at it that way) to all major centres. I’m thinking Antarctica. Or Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/113 "2012-02-01T11:47:43Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > A New York Minute International time is based around a suburb of London. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/114 "2012-02-01T22:41:35Z")
[Over 300 languages are currently spoken in London schools.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/definitions.shtml) [As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_York_City) On one short stretch of shopping street near my house in Brooklyn: [ul] [li]Bangla Fashion House[/li][li]Yummy Taco (owned/run by Chinese immigrants)[/li][li]Young Israel of Kensington[/li][li]Dinosha Albanian Village (butcher)[/li][li]Bastek Deli (Polish)[/li][li]Lechaim Jewelry and Shoe Repair[/li][li]Golden Farm International Grocery - Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, Israeli, kosher, organic, gourmet food (Korean owned)[/li][li]Plaza 5 de Mayo (productos Mexicanos)[/li][li]Alzaharaa (middle eastern grocery)[/li][li]City Apteka[/li][li]El Gavilan Mexican Italian restaurant[/li][li]Old Brick Restaurant (Montenegran)[/li][li]Polonez Travel Agency[/li][li]Blue Lake Halal Meat[/li][/ul] I’d say that’s pretty international. Points for NYC, even if the neighborhood is named after part of London. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/115 "2012-02-01T22:53:17Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > And the day you can walk into a mud hut in Africa and find someone who supports the Yankees, you can count that as a point for New York Ahem. “[Yankees fan kills Gaddafi](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051784/Gaddafi-dead-Yankees-fan-Mohammed-al-Bibi-claims-killed-dictator.html)” In terms of value and international brand recognition, Man U seems to edge out the Yankees. The London teams are much further down the list. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/116 "2012-02-01T23:25:59Z")
> [@epolo](#): > > [Over 300 languages are currently spoken in London schools.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/definitions.shtml) > > [As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_New_York_City) > > On one short stretch of shopping street near my house in Brooklyn: > [ul] > [li]Bangla Fashion House[/li][li]Yummy Taco (owned/run by Chinese immigrants)[/li][li]Young Israel of Kensington[/li][li]Dinosha Albanian Village (butcher)[/li][li]Bastek Deli (Polish)[/li][li]Lechaim Jewelry and Shoe Repair[/li][li]Golden Farm International Grocery - Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, Israeli, kosher, organic, gourmet food (Korean owned)[/li][li]Plaza 5 de Mayo (productos Mexicanos)[/li][li]Alzaharaa (middle eastern grocery)[/li][li]City Apteka[/li][li]El Gavilan Mexican Italian restaurant[/li][li]Old Brick Restaurant (Montenegran)[/li][li]Polonez Travel Agency[/li][li]Blue Lake Halal Meat[/li][/ul] > > I’d say that’s pretty international. Points for NYC, even if the neighborhood is named after part of London. Meh. Similar streets in London. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/117 "2012-02-01T23:48:51Z")
I’ve been to London, but never to New York (as I’m informed my 3 hour layover at JFK doesn’t count); however, I’ll be going there next month, so I’ll be able to provide the definitive answer then. Until that point, please carry on … ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/118 "2012-02-02T00:30:17Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I’ve been to London, but never to New York (as I’m informed my 3 hour layover at JFK doesn’t count); however, I’ll be going there next month, so I’ll be able to provide the definitive answer then. > > Until that point, please carry on … Having spent plenty of time in both, to be honest they’re remarkably similar. Different accents, and one is tall while the other is old, but that aside there’s not much difference. They smell different, though! ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/119 "2012-02-02T00:41:22Z")
Washington, DC. Second most embassies in the world except for Brussels (which has eight more most likely due to SHAPE). NYC isn’t even in the top 20. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754/120 "2012-02-02T01:01:58Z")
Just a point about the UN Headquarters. The land, whilst geographically speaking in New York, is under the jurisdiction of the UN. I’m not sure if that helps or hinders New York’s case however. In favour of London I’d second the GMT point. It’s the city from which the world’s timezones are based around, and that’s got to be a powerful plus point for London. Also, you can catch trains that GO UNDER THE SEA to other countries from London. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-of-the-world-london-or-new-york/605754.md?page=7)