The allure of the company town

0 minute read
Published 1/30/2025 on economist.com

Business | Bartleby

Lego, Corning and the survival of an old idea

Jan 30th 2025

Billund is a small town in Denmark with a population that stands at a little over 7,000 people. It is also the birthplace and headquarters of the world’s largest toy company. If you live in Billund, there is a decent chance you or one of your family works for Lego. If you visit for work, you are probably going to Lego’s offices (passing a sign near the entrance that instructs “Play on the grass”). If you go there as a tourist, you are almost certainly going to a Lego-themed attraction. The noun you hear most often is “brick”.

Explore more

BartlebyBusiness

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “The allure of the company town”

From the February 1st 2025 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition