As the world becomes more globalised, people are learning to vote with their feet. Countries, in turn, must improve their legal environments to attract the most creative and productive individuals. The rise of special jurisdictions — charter cities, foreign trade zones, stateless societies — shows that nothing is as attractive as freedom.

THE RISE OF SPECIAL JURISDICTIONS

In Zones of Progress: The Past, Present and Future of Special Economic Zones, our team travels from Dubai to Honduras to London, interviewing investors, developers, and officials to explore how special jurisdictions are reshaping the world.

Some ideas may seem too futuristic — until they’re not. My longread on seasteading dives into the world of floating nations, tracing the movement’s evolution and exploring how ocean-based living could redefine governance in the 21st century.

Another emerging frontier is the virtual world. In an article based on my academic paper for the Journal of Special Jurisdictions, I examine how the metaverse can serve as a testing ground for new rules, systems, and technologies. I also chaired a panel on this topic, at the 2024 Free Cities conference in Prague.

A SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

FREE CITIES IN MATURE DEMOCRACIES

Innovation in governance is often associated with remote or fragile regions — but what if mature democracies hold untapped potential? In my paper Beyond Freeports, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs, I argue that Britain’s legal traditions and legacy of urban autonomy make it well-suited to host the next generation of Free Cities. Featured in UK media and noticed by policymakers, the report makes the case for reimagining special jurisdictions: with broader autonomy, greater private-sector leadership, and mixed-use urban strategies.

In my award-winning essay From Sharing Economy to Private Cities: Why We Need Hayekian Competition in Urban Development I show how “startup cities”, from seasteading platforms in French Polynesia to special zones in Honduras, challenge the state monopoly on urban government.

A short documentary about private cities on why we might need private cities — and why some governments give the green light to such experiments. Titus Gebel, author of Free Private Cities book, Shajay Bhooshan, head of computation & design unit at Zaha Hadid Architect, and myself talk about the market for good governance, private urban planning, and the new ‘prosperity zone’ in Honduras.

For decades, the dream of a stateless utopia seemed out of reach — but today, thanks to projects like Liberland in Europe and Próspera in Central America, it feels closer to reality than ever before. In my interview with the Institute of Economic Affairs, I explain why we need private cities — and why some governments are willing to greenlight such bold experiments. We discuss real-life attempts to build a modern-day ‘John Galt’s Gulch’, from the charter cities in Honduras and the walkable, master-planned Lavasa in India to Irvine, California.

FREE CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE

The idea of free cities is not new — and one city close to my heart, Odesa in Ukraine, offers powerful proof. In just a few decades, a dusty Black Sea village transformed into one of Europe’s most vibrant trading hubs and fashionable resorts.

LESSONS
FROM HISTORY

As a porto franco — or free port — with low tariffs, open borders, and minimal regulation, it became a magnet for trade, talent, and culture. I explore this history through my writing, public talks, and interviews, reflecting on why Odesa’s model still matters today.