--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In trading with each other cities can't…" description: "\"In trading with each other cities can't be in too different stages of development, and they can't copy one another. Backward cities, or younger cities,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jane-jacobs-1991_cities_in-trading-with-each-other-cities-can-t_1062331.png" --- # In trading with each other cities can't be in too… ![“In trading with each other cities can't be in too different stages of development, and they can't copy one another. Backward cities, or younger cities, or newly forming cities in supply regions, have to develop to a great extent on one another's shoulders. This is one of the terrible things about…” quote by Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jane-jacobs-1991_cities_in-trading-with-each-other-cities-can-t_1062331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jane-jacobs-1991_cities_in-trading-with-each-other-cities-can-t_1062331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/jane-jacobs-1991_cities_in-trading-with-each-other-cities-can-t_1062331.png) > “In trading with each other cities can't be in too different stages of development, and they can't copy one another. Backward cities, or younger cities, or newly forming cities in supply regions, have to develop to a great extent on one another's shoulders. This is one of the terrible things about empires. Empires want them only to trade with the empire, which doesn't help them at all. It's just a way of exploiting them.” [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cities must develop at comparable stages to trade effectively; empires exploit less developed cities by forcing one‑sided trade. **In simple terms:** Cities need similar development to trade fairly; empires exploit weaker cities. Key Takeaway Promote equitable development and mutual trade. Themes urban planning economics inequality imperialism Mood critical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - urban policy - international aid - economic strategy Key Concepts developmental parity trade equity regional cooperation Questions to Reflect On - What policies can ensure fair trade between unequal cities? - How can regions avoid exploitation by larger powers? A Different Perspective Assuming all cities can develop equally may ignore unique local challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backward Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backward-cities-1665664/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Cities Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities-different-2601614/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Forming Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forming-cities-1665667/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Regions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regions/) [Regions Develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regions-develop-1665665/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stages of development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stages-of-development/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trading/) [Trading Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trading-cities-2601613/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Backward cities, or younger cities, or newly forming cities in supply regions, have to develop to a great extent on one another's shoulders. 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