The City today is the most dynamic and world-beating sector of the British economy. But at what cost? Elected politicians pretend they have power, but in reality are fettered by the narrow parameters of the financial markets. City values - greed, the bottom line, league tables are now the prevalent social and cultural values. The City is the cuckoo in the nest that makes it impossible for nurses, bus drivers and policemen to live in inner London, but enriches restaurateurs, estate agents and interior designers. Touching all the bases, The City State, will generate a new debate about the realities of Britain, the role of the city in British society and its place in the changing global economy.