London after "Brexit" : Possible implications for London as a primal financial centre in Europe

This thesis deals with the possible up-coming implications of Brexit for the city of London as a “primal financial centre” and whether a competitor like the city of Paris may expand its position in the international financial world. The research question “how does the Brexit impact the status of the “primal/international financial centre” London and can Brexit end the status Quo of London as a primal financial centre?” tries to shed a light on the on-going movements in the world of “primal financial centres” and tries to find a possible answer for the future development of the two cities of London and Paris. Through four hypotheses, the author tests, whether capital will remain in London, if the loss of a “European Hinterland” will be negative for the UK, if the Brexit as a unique historical event initiate substantial changes or if uncertainty serves as a catalysator for the relocation of capital towards more stable systems. With a strong focus on on-going developments and actions taken by businesses or public actors and the analysis of the Brexit negotiations, derived from newspaper articles and statements of involved parties, the author seeks to show a probable course and developments for the future of London as a “primal financial centre”. It is concluded that London status as a “primal financial centre” already has taken damage and that the future will see a slight decline of London as a “primal financial centre”. However, European competitors like Paris, while actively strive to profit from this event, seem not to be capable to pose a long-term and substantial thread to London and can only compete with the acquisition of certain financial sub-sectors.