Why Do We Have “Sister Cities”?(priceonomics.com)
priceonomics.com
Why Do We Have “Sister Cities”?
http://priceonomics.com/why-do-we-have-sister-cities/
13 comments
Perhaps I missed it, but the article does not seem to mention the obvious personal incentive for public officials: an exchange of free vacations. That seems naive.
I don't think "invective" means what you think it means.
Fixed. Thanks. Maybe autocorrect was trying to tell me something.
I'm curious if this idea has been explored in large organizations as a way of building understanding (read: breaking silos) between various departments/groups/teams.
How does priceonomics keep cranking out these articles while maintaining an otherwise boring product? Its impressive and simultaneously confusing.
The rationale of "Peace" seems a little weak to explain why there are so many sister cities between France and the UK, since there has been no direct conflict between the two countries for a long while now - and certainly it would not explain why the number has increased after WWII where France and the UK were clear allies (the UK even hosting Degaulle's call to resist).
From Yes, Minister Season Three, Episode Two, "The Challenge":
> Sir Humphrey: [talking about nuclear fallout shelters] Well, you have the weapons; you must have the shelters.
> Hacker: I sometimes wonder why we need the weapons.
> Sir Humphrey: Minister! You're not a unilateralist?
> Hacker: I sometimes wonder, you know.
> Sir Humphrey: Well, then, you must resign from the government!
> Hacker: Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not that unilateralist! Anyway, the Americans will always protect us from the Russians, won't they?
> Sir Humphrey: Russians? Who's talking about the Russians?
> Hacker: Well, the independent deterrent.
> Sir Humphrey: It's to protect us against the French!
> Hacker: The French?! But that's astounding!
> Sir Humphrey: Why?
> Hacker: Well they're our allies, our partners.
> Sir Humphrey: Well, they are now, but they've been our enemies for the most of the past 900 years. If they've got the bomb, we must have the bomb!
> Hacker: If it's for the French, of course, that's different. Makes a lot of sense.
> Sir Humphrey: Yes. Can't trust the Frogs.
> Hacker: You can say that again!
> Sir Humphrey: [talking about nuclear fallout shelters] Well, you have the weapons; you must have the shelters.
> Hacker: I sometimes wonder why we need the weapons.
> Sir Humphrey: Minister! You're not a unilateralist?
> Hacker: I sometimes wonder, you know.
> Sir Humphrey: Well, then, you must resign from the government!
> Hacker: Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not that unilateralist! Anyway, the Americans will always protect us from the Russians, won't they?
> Sir Humphrey: Russians? Who's talking about the Russians?
> Hacker: Well, the independent deterrent.
> Sir Humphrey: It's to protect us against the French!
> Hacker: The French?! But that's astounding!
> Sir Humphrey: Why?
> Hacker: Well they're our allies, our partners.
> Sir Humphrey: Well, they are now, but they've been our enemies for the most of the past 900 years. If they've got the bomb, we must have the bomb!
> Hacker: If it's for the French, of course, that's different. Makes a lot of sense.
> Sir Humphrey: Yes. Can't trust the Frogs.
> Hacker: You can say that again!
The European Union pays for it to happen. So it does.
Between westeners at worst no more than curiosities, but they are a good platform to start business in the East, where previous contacts and trust building is more important.