The Changing Shape of Great Britain
2024 ж. 30 Нау.
183 363 Рет қаралды
How's your local high street doing? This is how inequality affects the shape of a country.
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Performed by Gary Stevenson
@garyseconomics
"Highly unequal countries don't have cute little towns for ordinary people, they have slums for ordinary people." Well put.
Urbanisation... a trend since we created agricultural societies. People should try reading a bit more.
@@slapjuice if you like reading, try David Harvey, Mike Davis, Wengrow, J.C. Scott on the topic
@@emiliaerle6030 Urbanisation.... a mega trend that started 6000 years ago. 👏 👌 🙌 If you want work, move to where the work is. Otherwise create your own business, and employ people where you are. If not that, then go foraging in woods and live in a tent, or learn how to live off the land.
@@slapjuice you did not understand the video. Urbanisation was diverse until recently, creating small, medium and big towns. Not anymore.
@@javieralvarez1072 I understood exactly what Lord Gary is saying. Urbanisation by definition is not diverse. It is the continual coalescing into ultimately mega cities. Today the bigger issue is people for some reason have forgotten how to use free will, their brains and just move to where the work is, or the new town or city. This is the human story since we were foraging in Africa... we have always moved to where it is optimal for growth.
Last time I was in England I was shocked how even “posh” cities, Cambridge, Exeter, Stratford Apon Avon, had really slid into decay. With the exception of a few ‘nice bits’ it was pretty grim overall.
Identikit town centres in this country. They're all the same.
This is what our posh overlords strive for! Thank you! Our slums are yOUR slums. Did you get a chance to sample any of our sex workers? If you get the chance, ask for the "Posh Privilege." It'll BLOW your nose and then blow your mind. Welcome to Britain!🇬🇧
@@billB101Yeap, independent shops that are not multinational chains offspring their taxes should pay zero business rates on their premises and the multinationals should be taxed to oblivion on their coffees.
I live near Exeter, still a nice place but it has started to go downhill.
Cambridge slid into decay? Where in Cambridge is decaying? I was living there just 3 years ago and it was far from decaying
As someone who did a masters thesis on the decline of the highstreet, you notice people blame it all on online retail. Which of course has had an impact, however rich areas use online retail more than the poor. Yet their town centres are thriving, there is a correlation between the deprivation of an area and the vacancy rate of the town centre, it matches so well. And when you think on average people have £10,000 a year less disposable income compared to 2010, of course local businesses will be hit. People can't affoed to buy as much and people can't afford to set up a business.
Business rates v hugh too.
Waterlooville is a wealthy area.
@@Threadbow yes they are
Stop inviting in the foreigners
In the US, I call it the road to the highway syndrome. Small towns wouldn't allow major chains on their Main Street. But they let them build on the road out to the highway. That's where you'll find Walmart, Target, Home Depot and all the fast-food chains. This was done to protect local business. But now, Main Street is boarded up. The new "Main Street" is the road out to the highway. And 80% of every dollar leaves the community.
Great analysis Gary. You’re a true hero. Retired professor here been teaching about inequality for years. But you’ve got the economics chops to get through to people. We need a huge bottom up movement. One love!
Do you have any youtube lectures?
I scrapped through maths o level.....but here's the thing stagnant wages 40 plus years and ridiculous taxation, year on year of 20 per cent tax on £12,500, earnings, come on, it's a joke.
Thankyou Gary
I live in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a lot of what Gary says here makes sense. The city is overpopulated, polluted and stressful to live in, but there is a sense in which people have to live there. I'm a teacher and I would love to get out of the city, move my family to nice part of the country, but there is no way I'd get paid anything like as much. Ironically, it would be difficult to find good quality education for our boy also.
Such a shame 😢
There is more remote work. Have you looked into it? Today thanks to KZhead, a person can learn anything quicker and to a better level than any educational establishment can hope to ever match. Perhaps you could begin to solve both these issues by exploring the experiences and solutions found by people who share some of your issues and have uploaded their findings on KZhead.
It is because the Western economic model which uses the labor of the common man to create wealth.
@@amvedin Vietnam is a single party communist dictatorship.
The UK spent the 20th century becoming a more equal society. Now in the 21st, this is rapidly being reversed, heading back towards Victorian levels of inequality and poverty, with the top 1% becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of society. This is not a recipe for growth and a satisfied society - but one that is receptive to extremes of politics where much of the population has nothing to loose. These are the underlying conditions that facilitated the Russian revolutions and the rise of fascism in the 1920s & 30s.
Yes, Blair and Brown did do some good work, we were happy and had food as a small family, Tories have undone all that. Bastards
@alastairhoffmann9079 Very true and extremely sad. How many times do people get villified for stating this though? Too many vote for their own decline and destruction of community and country by listening to and espousing the very ones behind it all.
Well, that's because it can no longer benefit from colonialism. Europe will go back to what it was before colonialism. Rich and peasants. 😅
@@user-og4pz4sd2j I guess we'll just have to go back to colonialism then, thanks for the idea!
@@ageegag2037 Good luck with that. That's WW3. Good luck in the UK with that too, how many illegals do you have? And you think your tiktok youth is going to fight? 🤣🤣.
Some of you may be too young to remember it, but on this day, 31 March...1990, we had the Poll Tax Riots here in the UK!!
People now don't seem to protest like that now, maybe because decay into inequality has been gradual and with the distraction of the "culture war"
Mass migration has pretty much eliminated any possibility of any meaningful rebellion against the globalist's agenda.
Soon to have council tax riots. Since central government has withdrawn a lot of money to make the central trough bigger, in the name of giving local authorities more power. Councils are going into bankruptcy and the only way out, is to increase council tax.
And as far as I'm aware, it didn't help because they just changed the name to council tax! Just like rebranding an old company.
@@asadzeethree2726rates were a tax on a scale based on the "ratable" value of a house, poll tax was a tax on voters, council tax was back to a rating on the property. With poll tax, if there were two adults in a house then poll tax x 2 but the other two approaches were one tax on the property
I grew up in a latin american big city, and I lived for 6 years in a small town in the north west of England. I cannot emphasise enough how spot on your description is, and how much of a penny-drop moment it was to hear you crystallise with words what I've been seeing for so many years. You are a brilliant economist and better communicator, let's get your voice heard! One thing I would add is, what happens to essential services once there's no more rich people around? What happens to the quality of hospitals, doctors, schools, water infrastructure, etc.
Do you mean when the rich have all gone down to their underground bunkers!??
What happens? It's already happening - it's all degrading into dilapidation before our very eyes.
Lots of nose rubbing there in your video 😮 you talk a lot of sense though hope you get a bigger stage to speak
Hospitals and schools and all institutions are already broken and compromised all over the Western world because we shipped all our industrial base abroad.
You and I both know It’s already happening mate - dense HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), can indeed be seen as a form of hidden or disguised slums in the UK. They may not have the outward appearance of traditional slums with their nice conventional frontage - but overcrowding, poor living conditions, lack of privacy, and inadequate facilities - that’s a slum. And even though the minimum wage is now £23k, you’re gonna be living in a hidden slum, or with your parents, if you are one of the ‘supportive infrastructure’ workers in central London and earning that.
Good post. ‘Casualisation’ of the economy doesn’t help. Gig, zhc, agency
yep just think 100 years ago these huge victorian houses were considered a normal family home, now you're lucky to be able to afford a single room with a shared kitchen and bathroom, insane times we live it and as much as I agree with Gary and his tax the rich plan it's never going to happen
@@dazasc3994 shared bathroom - luxury! it’s more like a single room shared with the shower and loo in full view these days 😢🤦♀️🤷🏻♀️ Ah well at least the Exhibitionists are living the dream.
we're not going to get anywhere with that attitude so how you not say anything if you don't have something positive to say in that regard, please @dazasc3994
Just for fun - here is what the current worlds most capable AI makes of why we are where we are. It’s a long read - but a beautiful one: If the world were filled with people who had the iron will and pure integrity to consistently align their personal choices and lifestyles with their deepest values and convictions, even in the face of great challenge or sacrifice, we would indeed be living in a very different reality. So many of the crises and injustices we face as a society - from housing insecurity to income inequality to environmental destruction - are rooted in a fundamental disconnect between the values we profess to hold and the ways we actually live our lives. We may claim to believe in fairness, compassion, and sustainability, but too often our individual and collective choices prioritize short-term gain, convenience, or conformity over these higher principles. If more of us had the courage and commitment to truly walk our talk, to let our lives speak louder than our words, we would unleash a tremendous force for social and political transformation. Imagine a world where everyone who believed in the right to decent, affordable housing refused to participate in or profit from a speculative, financialized housing market. Where everyone who believed in economic justice voluntarily limited their own income and consumption in order to redistribute resources to those in need. Where everyone who believed in environmental sustainability radically simplified their lifestyle and rejected the consumerist status quo. Of course, this is not to suggest that the burden of systemic change should fall solely on individual choices and sacrifices. We absolutely need collective action, policy reform, and institutional overhaul to truly address the root causes of our social and ecological crises. No one should have to martyr themselves or take on undue hardship simply to live in alignment with their values in an unjust world. But at the same time, we cannot underestimate the power of personal integrity and principled action to shift cultures, challenge norms, and inspire others to think and live differently. When people are willing to make bold, unconventional choices in the name of their deepest convictions - whether it's refusing to work for more than minimum wage, engaging in rent strikes and boycotts, or radically downscaling their lifestyle - it sends a profound message about what truly matters, and about the kind of world we want to create. Such acts of personal integrity can ripple outwards in ways we may never fully see or understand, planting seeds of possibility and sparking the imagination of others who may have never considered alternative ways of being. They can help to create new narratives, new forms of common sense, new visions of what is desirable and achievable as a society. In a world that often feels so deeply fragmented and misaligned, where our stated values seem to have little bearing on our actual behaviors and systems, the examples of those rare individuals who manage to achieve a deep coherence between their principles and their practices can be a powerful healing and galvanizing force. They remind us that another way is possible, that we don't have to resign ourselves to hypocrisy or complicity, that we each have the power to start living the world we want to see, right here and now. They invite us to ask ourselves: what would it look like for me to show up with that level of integrity in my own life and choices? What would I need to change or let go of in order to be in fuller alignment with my deepest values and aspirations? Ultimately, while the path of personal integrity is not always an easy one, it is perhaps the most meaningful and impactful one we can walk. By doing the hard work to align our lives with our principles, and by supporting and uplifting others who do the same, we can begin to weave a new social fabric based on authenticity, justice, and care for the greater good. In a world of such integrity, the messes we currently find ourselves in would indeed begin to unravel and transform. Not because any one person's choices can solve our systemic crises, but because the cumulative power of so many people living their truth would fundamentally reshape our norms, our incentives, our policies, our very ways of relating to ourselves, each other and the world. So let us all strive to cultivate that iron will and pure integrity in ourselves and celebrate it in others. Let us have the courage to let our lives be our message, to embody the change we wish to see, to be the pioneers and way-showers of a more coherent and compassionate world. It won't be easy, but it is so deeply necessary - and so deeply beautiful. Here's to all those who dare to walk that path, and to a future where such integrity is not the exception but the rule.
The economic decline in the UK has become quiet scary,I spend the majority of my time in Europe and I don't see boarded up shops, no holes in the roads everywhere,no chavvy idiot causing trouble, no rubbish all over the place and I see the police most days.The UK is fuked.
Why is scots should've an independent country away from the English establishment
Run on oil I suppose?
Well at least the good thing is the rich own all thr property and commercial real estate so they are all losing money now 🎉🎉🎉🎉
@@johnmunro4952 Scotland has lots of oil england steals it though
You need to be specific. Europe is a vast area. Moldova is in Europe too. Btw, I have seen dirty bits in German cities too for example.
After listening to your thought on AMS89K, I decided to buy more and not sell soon
Please may I ask what AMS89K
Once again, Gary is spot on. Here in the US, you have wealthy pockets- walled off neighborhoods, private country clubs, suburbs, and “districts” within large cities- and vast swaths of dilapidated slums (both rural and urban) where the slave classes live. The wealthy are irritated that the slave class sometimes live in close proximity to their luxury areas- this is a subject of heated debates among local politicians, county commissioners, and officials. The rich don’t want to see or even acknowledge the existence of the slave class- and especially pay any tax to build housing, transportation, or other infrastructure that could possibly help the slave class. There is hardly any more “Middle class” in the US.
OMG, the things you see now in US, there are whole shanty towns in major cities. When I was young visiting the US, the poor folk lived in trailer parks and collected state support. Now the poor folk live their cars in car parks all over the place and and they all work, many work 2 jobs.
the point of the middle class was to be a buffer class supported by the largess of the industrialists in order to prevent a communist revolution. it should not be a surprise the reason housing has fallen in quality, things are unattainably expensive, and more unequal because post 1989 capitalism no longer had to behave itself.
Sucks to suck buddy
@@HayleydeRonde Did you see this in California? What state did you see this?
@@HayleydeRonde I just saw that rent on just the lot in a trailer park is around $1,300 to $1,500 a month.
My fiance is from Russia and her Dad sent me this video of the lady walking down the high street. He asked "why is this happening?", "What's going on?" This has hit the nail on the head. I'll send this video. Capitalism is catching up with the smaller "satellite" towns here in the UK. Supermarkets did not sell everything even in the 90's. Now we have the one stop shop and online shopping. There is a reason Bezos is a billionaire. Support local businesses/communities where possible. Pay that extra if possible. Let's help real people. Is the system broken? I really need to asses what I can do going forward. Love this channel! Great work. Top notch sir.
You could get off Google and buy your local newspaper
Local businesses have been pushed out by chains over the last few decades. A lot of them aren't there any more to support.
So you want people who have less money to spend to pay extra? What world do you live in?🙄
Beware that you may end up with one-stop shops like Amazon or Walmart.
"give all my money to the millionaires and i dont give a f**k about you" -average brit
I just came back to the UK from Italy where the economy is not exactly doing well atm and the worstening state of the UK in the time I've been away is shocking
I, too, returned from Italy in 2014, where I lived and worked for 22 years. I've come to the conclusion that I've made a huge mistake. Italy is poorer on paper, but it's very rich in culture, tradition, family, cohesion and better way of life. I used to live in Genoa, better known as Genova to it's residents.
I've just left London after 12 years for Italy, I miss the UK a lot, I really do. Great liberal country however it's clear that great problems are driving its economy out of control, the left needs to start saying a few no, not everyone deserves everything and be tough on law and order, otherwise someone really tough and get it done. I still remember that fool of paxman lecturing Umberto Eco in an interview about Berlusconi, and how a similar thing couldn't happen in Britain. British society has become fully aware of its tremendous problems, hope it improves quickly as I would like to go back.
@@pietropaolini7398 Interesting, your comment about Mr. Patronising Paxman, trying to lecture Eco. One of the many occasions where the British establishment and media saying 'do what we say, but don't do as we do' Maybe, I'll return to Italy, not happy!
I'm back from Japan and the contrast is even more hard hitting. What a mess we're in!
It's bad everywhere, but the UK seems to be on another level. I'm currently in Tartu, Estonia but from Wales. The city has about 90 thousand people, but no empty shops, and a bustling, high street dominated by independent, local businesses. European countries seem to favour supporting the local economy, whereas the UK has long chased the US-style of town centre, which is a lot less sustainable.
I go to a school in Barking, and I found out about this channel from my cover teacher in PSHE. We were doing finance and he stopped the lesson to just talk about you and your story.
With teachers like that you're doomed mate. This 'street speak' Owen Jones is an establishment tool.
Why do you need to learn how to bark? Haven't you ever heard a dog?
You are v lucky to have such a good teacher 💖
@@ageegag2037ha ha very good 😂
@@Rob-ik3fd I don’t get how you could say he’s ‘establishment’? Most of what he says is very much opposing that
I live in waterlooville - I've written to the council many times as the only things that seem to be built here are fast food restaurants and betting shops. If you're Overweight and poor it's a perfect combination to ensure you stay that way isn't it.
betting shops should be banned
@@mistermood4164 I agree 100% gambling is purely a tax on the poor. It's disgusting really
I also live in Waterlooville, moved here a couple of years ago. That area in the video will be knocked down and redeveloped, with apartments apparently. The rest of the town centre isn’t much better but the local council are engaging with the local people about how best to change for the better. The problem is it’s not easy, the area changed with a retail park, with large supermarket plus the usual suspects, with free parking and that’s taken people away from the town, shops closed etc. not uncommon in many other towns in the UK
Southsea here, commercial road not far off the featured street nowadays and parts of Elm Grove looking really sad. Really hope things improve
A major problem for the local council in Waterlooville and Havant is the lack of engagement from the foreign landlords/land owners. An issue found in many small towns across the UK that can only be fully addressed by central government and policy change, giving local authorities more power and control over high streets and the repurpose and adaption for future generations.
It’s really scary when even the charity shops are closing. Great video Gary
Bought 8 vinyl records from charity shop last month. Half of them don't play properly.
@@terrorbilly2520 Charity shops ( here in London ) now have vinyl specialists who price things, thing is though you're guaranteed they'll be keeping the best bits to flip themselves.
@@terrorbilly2520i very sincerely doubt you are engaging in good faith, you are clearly trying to derail assessment of systemic economic conditions by bringing up an irrelevant anecdote you're going to claim is substantial along the lines of "well they just provide bad service!!!!" as some kind of baseless vapid extrapolation of a single group of experiences nobody can even verify you actually had.
@@terrorbilly2520you now look like a fool, congrats 🎉🎉
Good. I'm sick of seeing lovely city centres with a Scope or Barnardos there.
Recommend Wandering Turnip death of the high street. One of my local towns is Bolton - it’s dead in comparison to a few years ago. Shops/buildings being bulldozed to build apartments to become a commuter town for Manchester. Bury on the other hand is thriving with it’s fantastic very busy market, shopping and leisure facilities. Independent traders too. Has tram links to Manchester but seems to be holding its own at the moment without becoming just another suburb of Manchester. How are Freeports and SEZ’s going to impact this only time will tell. UK asset stripped and sold off to big corps 😞
@gilliandarlington3276 Wandering Turnip is one of my favourite channels, he does a really good job of showing (mostly) general decline in an area whilst having a look-see at the cheapest housing for sale. I live in the north-west too and it's very worrying to see how much has been ruined by lack of investment by central Government, too many corporations owning huge (and left redundant) landbanks, and poor planning. We had a lot of development investment here from EU funding in the past which was great, but now that's gone Government has not replaced it with anything worthwhile if anything at all. Asset-stripping abounds indeed 😥😠
Freeport's and SEZs? [eyebrows raised, then head held in hands] Sounds like a catastrophe in the making
I watch that ‘Wandering Turnip’ guy too. He tries to keep a positive attitude.
What a brilliant analysis. Simple and profound. This is a guy who understands what’s happening. How many politicians could say the same?
It’s brilliant that you can create engaging content that looks at different interesting subjects but still delivers the core message about inequality- this is what socialist politicians should be doing if we had any left!! Keep it up Gary
I am watching you from Morocco 🇲🇦 a country going through a transition to a modern and developed economy while holding on to the traditional Moroccan exotic way of life. Hope our economists are watching your videos ❤ All the best, Gary.
Learn from our mistakes.
Have they rolled this guy out as the new Owen Jones?
@@Rob-ik3fd No Owen Jones is a full fat moron, this guy as much as it pains me as a capitalism fan might be right.
What does "modern" and "developed" mean? Neoliberal reforms?
@@NosyFella building modern infrastructure such as mot, roads, railways etc. Developed economy means institutions like the ones in Europe.
It's morbidly similar to the effect of Industrialisation in Britain in the c.18th and 19th. Majority of pop'n abandoning the rural / small towns seeking work in the massive cities and hubs of commerce. Almost Dickensian
Along with the dismantling of the welfare state we'll find ourselves back with landed gentry and us serfs, bowing and scraping for scraps 🤬
How is it we don't learn from our mistakes? How come we don't say what we want to outcome to be (quality of life, quality of the environment, food, etc) and build a system that gets us there?
Liberalism in economics created Dickensian England. NeoLiberalism in economics created Neo-Dickensian England. As simple and obvious as sh!t
Ye except there’s no industry or work.
@@JonotJoe66 So where is the dismantling of the welfare state occurring? It seems to me one half of this country works to keep the other half.
Gary, you've perfectly described my home city of Toronto and it surrounding burrough cities. Canada, a country of 40+ million people is basically three city centers/regions where 65-70% of the population live.
Nothing will change without a functioning media that works for the people.
@samshep70 Agreed. Who was it who abandoned second Leveson? Oh yes. In the meantime, I subscribe to reader-owned press/media such as Byline Times, Private Eye, Led By Donkeys and, although I read a lot of the gutter press i.e.100% of 'mainstream' in UK, it's just to keep an eye on how their agendas and rhetoric is trying to shape / brainwash us (and to have an incredulous laugh at the utterly mendacious messages being foisted onto us)
So true, our MSM is more committed to pushing a narrative than it is to telling the the truth.
Exactly. It's the first thing that needs to be fixed before anything
So you can talk more, great that will solve the problem of financial inequality. Let us know your plan.
How can people be unified and heading in the right direction without the correct information? Information/education is vital, surely this is obvious. The media is bought and run by the people who benefit from the status quo, and runs on splintering and false narratives, not truth@@Himself2019
My employer is based in London but during the pandemic went completely remote based with staff working from home or hybrid. It meant that i, living in deepest darkest Wiltshire got a very well paying job (at least for my area) without moving to London. Remote Working seems to be a great way to reduce the London Bubble and an actual 'leveling up' strategy. Annoys me when Jacob Rees-Mogg complains about it...
I think he's annoying too... but I suppose there's a unfairness when you've got people with office jobs expecting to keep a salary that's had london housing and commuting costs baked in when those people don't actually have to live in london any more.
I agree, it doesn't suit everybody but for some people it has changed their work life balance and standard of living for the better.
@@Magpie314 It will suit some people and not others. There are as many positives as negatives.
The internet isn’t bound by geography, so why should wages be?
Completely agree. Remote absolutely works for skilled workers (like myself - an IT contractor) who don't benefit from advancement nor need training and whose job description does not require them to be at the site/office to complete it. It doesn't work well at all for those who need supervision, training or are team/customer facing, but it certainly does slow the 'brain drain to the big smoke'.
stripped for parts and sold off to mates and donors....
Ha the UK been bought by private equity ?!
The wipe out of the middle class by design
That's what they are doing to the NHS and Starmer will just carry it on. We have to vote for independents or Greens.
@@hilaryporter7841 A vote for the independents or Greens is a vote for the Tories.
@@billB101 As is a vote for Labour
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The economy is never explained well by the media... To keep us in the dark... It is great to see your ideas and perspectives.
99% of journos have no training in economics. Most of the misinformation is unintentional.
You are inspirational Gary!...I hope you achieve what you are aspiring to and we are with you every step of the way...
The problem is not lack of housing. The problem is that as soon as housing is built (sometimes before), it is snapped up by the rich who are cash buyers. If there is not any regulation around who can buy this housing, how can ordinary people have any chance? The deck is stacked against them from the start.
I suggest we limit the amount of residential housing any one person can own in whole or part to two, anywhere in the world until everyone is well housed. Now,how do we get the rentiers earning money by producing?
Quite - and I would add BTL mortgages should never have been allowed in the first place...
Yes so the silly argument by Tories and neoliberals is : You make a block of new houses The rich take them all, buys them all Which is good, because than “trickle down” will happen 🤡
Immigration statistics show you are wrong.
@@2Question-EverythingYes and also make it illegal for non-UK residents to buy residential properties.
interesting.you should visit Uganda. we are a country with many poor and a few rich people. But what is interesting is that most people own the land and live mortgage free. And given a lack of central govt help, almost all poor people are entrepreneurs. Britainn used to fit that model before it was changed y industrialisation.. But capitalism seems to have the efffect of draining wealth upwards. I dont have much to say except that it is an intersting mootful perspective you have presented🤠👍
@carlosmbaziira4137 What prevents the land falling into the hands of the rich? Is land ever for sale? Can people be forced to sell to pay debts or taxes?
@@desmondroberts6034 sadly, we now have many incidents of land grabbing.
@@carlosmbaziira4137 The rich are always greedy for land but; how is the land taken, by lawful means?
"Capitalism seems to have the effect of draining wealth upwards"
Love Gary, love his content, love him even more after seeing the studio ghibli hoodie, keep it up 🙏🏻
Hey, I just said that too 😂 love him even more 😂
Inequality is the elephant in the room! Thank you
Inequality has existed in every society since the beginning of time.
As has violence. Just because something has always existed, that doesn't mean it isn't important to try to control it.
That's basically every video on this channel!
Inequality is the elephant that destroyed the room
In equality is fundamental to a functioning society. We aren’t communist.
India is another good example of what Gary is talking about. We're heading that way.
atleast india is heading in the right direction - we're falling fast.
Not really middle class is increasing but saved wealth still decreasing
In more ways than one
The Indian economy is roaring for the middle classes. An average professional with 10 years experience has a MUCH HIGHER purchasing power parity compared to India. How do I know. I am an Indian in the UK and compare my cousin's life standard compared to mine.
India is like the UK from the 1980s liberalising the Financial secture and selling of the state assets- Indias continued success is its energy- and hard work mentality-
... went to Jakarta a few years back, absolutely mental the level of disparity of poverty intermingled with mega structures and malls.
.. what was also interesting and worth noting was how some of the issues of poor housing and lack lustre economy was dealt with in the 60's with the evolution of 'new towns' (think old school version of 15 min city but 50 or so years ago,) like Runcorn New Town and Shopping City, built as a satellite to Liverpool, to help alleviate piss poor quality housing conditions when slums were demolished; similarly, Milton Keynes in attempt to deal with housing 'congestion' from around the same time, both dealing with shortages during an era of post war reconstruction. The idea kind of failed, massively, certainly in Runcorn, basically ghettoising those on lower incomes or from traditionally poorer urban areas, as the welfare state shrank, industry diminished and maintenance cost of cheap housing stock increased (think RAAC scandal paired with neo-con politics & Thatcherism,) creating segregated, isolated, crumbling hellholes based on the car/bus as the principal mode of transport and failing to anticipate economic conditions further down the road, in the future. Same goes for a lot of estates around the UK. Was also watching some stuff about them yesterday. I used to sign on in Shopping City in 2002. It was a shithole then. Can't imagine it has improved too much.
Many thanks, Gary. Happy Easter!
Bless you, Gary. I fear the worst is yet to come. Too much ignorance from those who think (incorrectly) that they're going to be ok.
Great analysis of our totally avoidable situation. Labour seem to offer nothing better either. I'll be letting my friends know about your channel. Thank you.
Brilliant video Gaz! Most your videos before this have set the ground for this one. It takes it to the next level.
Love the book Gary, started reading and devoured it in about a week! Keep doing your great work 😊
Keep this up Gary... Super respect for your work and raising awareness
Congrats on the book, Gary. I finished listening to the audio version yesterday. Keep fighting the good fight.
Another top video Gary! Slightly different to most subjects that have been raised, but it just goes to show, how pervasive inequality is throughout society.
Well said Gaz. Fantastic video as ever 👏🏼
Very insightful. Thank you.
Thank you Gary for sharing your knowledge and thinking with us. I really appreciate everything you are doing.
Gary is a legend.A rich person with a conscience ,a unicorn ! Well done sir !
Why would a rich person ( however you choose define it ) not have a conscious ?
@@jjefferyworboys8138 Because of greed.
@@jjefferyworboys8138if you think a billionaire has a conscience then you’re misguided.
@@jjefferyworboys8138 The first casualty of inbreeding is conscience
He's NOT a rich person. He's a poor person with money
This is what happens when the cabinets and leaders of countries are very wealthy themselves so prioritising the needs of the poor and middle classes diminishes. Dev Patel’s new film, Monkey Man, touches on how the rich simply see everyone else as animals to be subjugated. It’s down on my watch list. Great pieces to cam Gary x
93% tomatoes. I will watch this. The trailer was great until the marketing department said, "Let's get Jay-Z to rap sh!t over this!" Goddamned capitalist dogs
Excellent take, Gary. Spot on!
Very sad to see this over the years. I live in Cornwall and have my own business which means most of my work is Bristol, London, Birmingham way. I see a lot of small towns slowly disappearing on my travels. Great channel 👍
Thank God I live in Scotland and not in collapsing england
@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922 oh yeah, Scotland is great. Btw how is that drug epidemic up north? Still going strong?
@@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922 Scotland has a lot of the same issues.
@@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922what law comes into action tomorrow in Scotland? Please tell us 😂😂😂😂😂
@@robaudi20v The one england has and is now stopping protest in England silly...I'm sorry you can't be a hate filled racist anymore 😂
Gary, A couple of weeks ago we drove through Sparkbrook (the Balti Triangle) in Birmingham. The high street was teeming with people and looked to be thriving. My wife commented on how there were virtually no white faces. There were also no large supermarket chains or national brand stores - they were all independent stores and small supermarkets catering for the varied local population (Indian, Asian, African, Carribean). What this means is that a far greater amount of the wealth generated remains within the local community. Whilst it is not an overtly wealthy area it does appear to be capable of sustaining itself as opposed to many of the traditional English towns which are in a spiral of decline as wealth is extracted by the rich.
This comment had me feeling nervous at first but it turned out ok
I live in Bletchley, it’s town centre gets a lot of stick. All, but a few of the businesses are owned by our ethnic population. Open 24/7, bet most of the owners don’t earn more than the minimum wage. But, their presence is keeping the High Street alive. Good luck to them.
@@mickcorbett6724 Fully agree.
What's your point?
Where do you think these shop owners go for their stock? Tesco, Asda, Morrisons. And why wasn't it a wealthy area? Hmm...
I came across one of your videos the other day hadn't really looked at economics or finance but since sitting and watching you we need you in government I'd vote for you in a heart beat
Absolutely love your brutally honest and decent podcasts. So enlightening!
Nice one Gary!
"Poverty is the problem." I wish this insight was not constantly and repeatedly forgotten (or perhaps wantingly ignored) by our politicians and economists...
The thing is, our system, and our people, have repeatedly ignored the poverty and hardship it has created in the rest of the world. That's why vicious attacks on immigration of poor people into rich countries is focused on by the powerful. Because it breeds people who will fight for the interests of the wealthiest against even their own, so long as they hold onto a tiny vestige of that relative privilege. This was how slavery and colonialism was empowered by a tiny minority of hugely wealthy people.
@@uniteddreamer 🎯
Let's no forget-poverty is a lack of cash, not a lack of character.
It's spelled wantonly. You have a spell checker built into the device you're using, use it.
@@aluisious or wantlessly 😂
You're amazing Gary. Keep up the amazing work ❤
Gary, I luv your channel. I got up at 5am and went to work at the P.O just like your Dad. Only I moved from a rural farm in Yorkshire to be a postman in Brisbane. 50-60 years ago farms in my valley & surrounding valleys supported 2 or 3 families. That meant that each village had a garage, coop, newsagents, etc. Now those farms have been mechanized, combined & no longer need the labour. As a consequence, all those village shops have closed down. The houses belong to wealthy retirees or people whose income allows them to commute to the cities. OK, there's more to it than that. I once read an article written in the 1930's, that said our village is doing ok we still have a blacksmith. So everything you describe has been going on for quite some time. I hope it gets reversed. It seems to me that the globalization of manufacturing has exasperated all this.
Like the spirited away hoodie. Interesting piece, as usual. Thanks Gary.
Talks about his two months in Colombia... Rubs nose instinctively.
Its not about individuals
He definitely practiced his Spanish over there 😂
🤣🤣🤣👍
Hehehe :D
I thought that. He must have touched his face about 100 times in a 10 minute vid. Weird.
Great video mate - so sad seeing this happening to our country
Great book Gary keep exposing the truth , thank you so much
Crystal clear. Thank you.
I've shared this on X very important I formation
Everyone in the comments, should share this one with everyone they know
A lot of these holiday destinations where property prices are rising is because the greedy expect to have multi homes. The first thing I'd do would be to tax the hell out of second homes. The revenue to be put directly into council housing
I agree!
I think you have to go further - they've already tried to increase the tax on 2nd homes, and it's not made any difference. There needs to be a certain % for local people - lets say 30-40% otherwise you loose the basic infrastructure of places - see areas like the South Hams / Dartmouth (south of Plymouth). Full of retired Londoners and second homers. There needs to be the taxes, but perhaps the 2nd homes also need to be licensed, like AirBnB is in a lot of areas, and then the numbers of licenses is limited to ensure local facilities stay available, and locals can afford live there still.
@IanMossManchester Yes. Or how about. If you buy a 2nd home, you have to also pay to build an affordable home to replace its loss from the local market
@@MrMassivefavour I don't think that would work in a lot of the cute places. They're small, and don't have any spare room to build new places. I'd be more in favour of 2nd home licenses - treat them as private airbnbs.
You have my support, Gary.
Great video Gary;-) thanks for what you do
I am a Brit who has lived in Austria for the last 14 years. I forecast back in 2011 after visiting the neighbouring Czechia and Slovakia, that the influx of investment into these former Iron Curtain countries would push the affluence and well being way of the towns I visited above the declining industrial regions of the UK that I know, such as Nuneaton, Rotherham or Renfrew. And indeed that is what has happened. Austria is not immune from the trends that Gary sees, - as family owners reach retirement their shops in my local town are left empty, and the high street in Linz has been very much depleted in recent years with the opening of a massive out of town shopping mall. The differences I see in central Europe compared to the UK highlight two underlying trends not expanded on in Gary's comments:- The level of industry. In 1980, when Thatcher came to power 30% of the working UK population were employed in Industry, now it is less than 13%. In Austria it is still around 30%, based primarily on SME's distributed around the country. The influx of investment in industry, via Skoda in Czechia, and the likes of Land Rover in Slovakia, have greatly improved the economic situation of ordinary citizens in these countries over the last 15 years. The globalisation of brands. The problem of denuded local shopping areas is a global problem that is not just a case of shifting wealth to large cities, it is also shifting wealth in the brands that we consume. In this respect Austria is also fighting a loosing battle, even if it is 20 or 30 years behind Britain. There are still many small firms active in Austria and local recommendations and loyalties still mean something. But in fashion for example, the Gen Z just flock to the big Shopping Mall to buy name brands. In Czechia and Slovakia with the increased affluence of the local population, young start-ups in the town centres show a big revival, but there are also one or two Big Names, such as TESCO or BATA, appearing in the high streets.
I walked tru the 21st district in Vienna yesterday and a lot of shops are closed. And thrash shops like Action open up all over Vienna. Not a good sign
I live in paisley which borders Renfrew...it is a thriving town that is expanding and doin really well on account of tge fact that it border(itd basicly in the centre) of the big city Glasgow...its becoming upmarket. A terrible examole to use. Literaly has turned into a rich town.
@@hailynewma9122 The shift in wealth is effecting virtually everywhere.
@@stuartlawler2411 I think the massive differences between parts of the Glasgow conurbation is what struck us when we visited in 2022. Renfrew is not at all bad compared to many town centres but the impact of inequality is palpable.
@andrewf7754 Do you think it's better in Graz?
Thanks for that mate. Never thought of it but that’s obviously spot on 👍
I agree and also believe that a wealth tax is probably the only solution. In the UK we currently have dire and worsening public services, a growing and economically damaging wealth inequality, a pitiful level of investment and reducing productivity and GDP per capita etc etc.
Why would stealing money from people who are better off than you be a 'solution'? Not only a solution, but the ONLY solution?? How about we hold the government to account of their utterly horrendous waste of taxes on an inefficient NHS, developing aid for countries that have space programmes, five-star accommodation for channel migrants and all the other criminal wastes of our hard earned cash? Wealth taxes just means more money gets wasted on stupid sh*t.
Such a fascinating analysis Gary, the direction of travel is clear sadly. Love the videos, thanks for all your work 🙏
Thanks for the wake up call.
'Wake up call' where have you been living for the past 20 years?
Your “no face” top is quite apt with regards to us not having a voice any longer. Loving the content dude. 🙌
Always interesting! Thanks Gary.
Really interesting observation and very timely for me is that I've been reading up on medieval enclosure (trying to understand how britain looks the way it does for a project) and it turns out that this kind of migration from the country to centers happened during enclosure when landowners dispossessed the commoners from the common land and took it for themselves to raise sheep on. So it seems like we're coming close to that shape of inequality again. Basically going back to medieval times!
Very insightful. I moved here from North America. UK is just medieval times. Inbreeding, eugenics and wage slavery are the order of the day
Gary, I follow your channel, and have watched all your videos, bought your book, and often share your videos and interviews on my socials. You are on a very important crusade here, which is great. I'd like to ask you to start priming the people watching you, as to what they can (must) do in order to build the movement to actually tackle inequality, taxing the rich. 😀 Keep up the good work sir 👏
Mate just came across your channel randomly but I love your work the way explain things is put forward simply and easy to understand 10 out of 10
I love that ghibli sweater, awesome content as always
Just referring to the opening clip. It's important that we don't discount the effect the Internet has had on the high street and on shopping in general
GOD BLESS YOU GARY
Loving your book Gary.
Great vid... What you describe there is basically the capitol and districts.. In the Hunger Games films
Thanks Gary.
Brillant ! It is obvious once you understand it! The slums!
Thanks Gary, really appreciate your work and I enjoyed the book
This is really fascinating stuff!
You cannot build ‘out of town’ retail parks and superstores and not expect small shops and town centres to struggle and shut down. There is a choice to make; either have a vibrant high street or supermarkets/retail parks.
Absolutely correct
@robertscott4728 Yes indeed.
This is fascinating
This phenomenon was a good observation for me for a long time but I did not know how to explain it to other people. Thanks for this video
You are so good & so clear as an educator Gary 🙏🙌✊🏻📣📣📣
I work in NHS and it’s dire since 2010
I've been using the NHS and it's dire since 2010. It's like the worst of private health care
Badly managed, dominated by the unions, over generous sick pay, excessive spending on and activity focused on diversity, equity & inclusion. It needs radical reform. The Tories daren't do it and Labour won't do all of what is needed either.
@@WarrenPeaceOG have you ever been private. The cost of every single thing used is documented. I couldn’t work in USA as a nurse being unable to treat someone cos they couldn’t pay for it
I think NHS should be disbanded. Not fit for purpose
@@lesleyrobertson5465 Worst health experience of my life. It seemed I had a 'non-standard' body which was cutting into profits. I was single-handedly destroying her bonus. She was annoyed. I was in a quiet rage. Especially coming on the heels of a new Spanish nurse in the village who was so compassionate and caring she seemed to be some kind of Christ-like figure. Light seemed to emanate from all around her, like being in her presence was enough to cure you.😍Wife had same experience. The tragedy of private healthcare is that states have a super-ability to spread risk, and finance long term projects and we refuse to use either power. There is nothing as idiotic, inefficient and expensive as private health care. It introduces perverse incentives, conflicts of interest, undermines trust, quadruples the price of everything. It involves the creation of a whole new bureaucracy to act as gatekeepers PREVENTING people from getting care.... 🤯I'm sure one day I'll die from refusing private treatment on principle
Absolutely bang on gary 100% totally agree
What a brilliant video!
Wow I never noticed this perspective of the shape of a country! Great video 👌
very interesting observation
Very informative
Great video did a similar walk down windor for a Easter Sunday while there was very little empty retail outlets it was VERY quiet for bank holiday weekend.
hi. I spend the day listening to your book. thanx for sharing... I'm still to moved for putting it into words. well done and thnx again
The small town where I grew up now just consists of fast food, betting and charity shops, that’s it for many local towns and very little else apart from two huge Tescos a mile to the east and west who are clearly responsible for driving out the small businesses
Ilford is not dissimilar
As always Gary very interesting content. Can confirm ALL of the Northern Towns i visit are a mirror of this, empty stores, Charity Shops, Pound Shops, Pawn Brokers, Bookies.
A book shop owner I know, has trouble with paying his 4000 rent to the landlord I don’t understand how this distribution of wealth benefits anyone, beside this one specific landlord. But we are not allowed to ask questions, cause this makes you “ a communist” seemingly 🤡
Boy, you're spot on Gary. All People have to do is look.... and think.
keep the good work going on