The Global

City
What is Global City?

Global city is an urban centre that enjoys

significant competitive advantages as a hub
within a globalized economic system. The
term has its origins in research on cities
carried out during 1980’s, which examined the
common characteristics of the world’s most
important cities.
Why Study Global Cities?

Globalization is spatial because what

makes it move is the fact that it is based
in places.
In the years to come, more and more people
will experience globali

1950 2014

30% of the world lived in 54% of the world lived in

urban areas. urban areas

2050

66% of the world

population will live in
urban areas
What makes a city “global”?

- High degree of urban development

- Large population
- Presence of major multinational companies
- Globalized finance sector
- High quality educational and research institutions
- Globally influential output ideas, innovations or
cultural changes
Early research on global cities are concentrated on
key urban centres such as London, New York City and
Tokyo.
An examination of globalization through the
concept of the global city introduces a strong
emphasis on strategic components of the
global economy rather than the broader and
more diffuse homogenizing dynamics we
associate with the globalization of consumer
markets.
What is the importance of Global City?

• Cities have historically been drivers of growth

and development. They act as connectors in
global networks pathways that facilitate
global flows.
It also provide agglomerations of people,
of supply (of labor or capital) and demand
(for goods and services) of markets and
opportunities.