The Global City

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
 Gain a fuller and a more solid understanding about the concept of Global City and the
other ideas associated with it;
 Be able to analyze the importance and significance of the Global City in the realm of
economic, political, and socio-cultural dimensions of the contemporary global setting;
 Be able to correlate the Concept of the Global City within the greater contract of
Globalization;
 Equip students with 21st century learning and develop higher order of thinking skills that
will lead towards a deeper understanding of the subject matter and correlate the topic in
the Philippines.
 Introduction
In the contemporary world, the concept of the global city has emerged as a
significant phenomenon that encapsulates the interconnectedness of economies,
cultures, and societies. A global city can be defined as a metropolis that serves as a
hub for international business, finance, and cultural exchange. This essay explores
the multifaceted nature of global cities, highlighting their economic importance,
cultural diversity, and the challenges they face in maintaining their global status.
Global cities are key nodes in the global economic system, serving as centers
of finance, commerce, culture, and innovation. They play a crucial role in
facilitating international trade, attracting foreign investment, and hosting major
corporations and institutions. These cities are often characterized by their
cosmopolitan nature, multicultural population, and connectivity to the global
network of cities.
 What is a Global City
A global city, also known as a world city or known by other terminologies as “alpha
city” or world center is a city regarded as a primary node in the global economic
network. a global metropolis, is a major urban center that plays a central role in the
global economic system and serves as a key node in the networks of finance,
commerce, culture, and communication. Global cities are vital hubs for international
trade, investment, and innovation, attracting businesses, professionals, and cultural
exchange from around the world.
The concept of global cities was popularized in the late 20th century by sociologist
Saskia Sassen and urban studies scholar John Friedmann. They identified certain cities
as having unique characteristics that set them apart as global players in the
contemporary world. Some of the most well-known global cities include New York,
London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, Dubai, and Shanghai. However, the list is
continuously evolving as cities around the world compete for global prominence.
Why Study Global Cities?
Globalization is spatial because: 1. It occurs in physical spaces, 2. What
makes globalization move is the fact that it is based on places.
 Key features of global cities include
Globalization as a spatial phenomenon, Happens in physical spaces –
foreign investment, economic, opportunities, and human capital- move to cities.
Globalization is spatial as it is based on places. Global cities are integral to
globalization as it is essential to these global cities.
1. Economic Significance: Global cities are economic powerhouses, hosting
headquarters of multinational corporations, major financial institutions, and
global business centers. They are crucial in facilitating international trade
and investment and are often centers of innovation and entrepreneurship.
2. Cultural Diversity: Global cities are melting pots of cultures, with diverse
populations representing various nationalities, ethnicities, and languages.
This cultural diversity contributes to their vibrancy and cosmopolitan
character.
 Key features of global cities include
3. Connectivity and Transportation: Global cities have excellent transportation
infrastructure, including international airports, extensive public transit
systems, and efficient logistics networks. They are well-connected to other
cities and regions, allowing for the easy movement of people, goods, and
information.
4. Knowledge and Education: Global cities are home to prestigious universities,
research institutions, and think tanks. They attract scholars, students, and
professionals from all over the world, fostering intellectual exchange and
cutting-edge research.
5. Tourism and Hospitality: Global cities often draw a large number of tourists
due to their cultural attractions, landmarks, entertainment options, and
world-class hospitality services.
 Key features of global cities include
6. Financial Centers: Many global cities are prominent financial centers,
hosting stock exchanges, investment banks, and financial services firms.
They are critical in the global flow of capital and financial transactions.
7. Cultural and Creative Industries: Global cities are hubs for the arts,
entertainment, media, and creative industries. They showcase a rich
cultural scene and are centers for the production and dissemination of
creative content.
8. Influence on Global Affairs: Global cities often have a significant impact on
global affairs, as they play host to international organizations, diplomatic
missions, and major global summits.
 Indicators for Globality
1. The foremost characteristics is Economic Power
 For example New York may have the largest stock market in the world, but
Tokyo houses the most number of corporate headquarters (613 company
headquarters as against 217 in New York).
Shanghai may have a smaller stock compared to New York and Tokyo, but it
has the World’s busiest container port, moving over 33 million container units
in 2013.
2. Economic opportunities in a global city make it attractive to talents from
across the world
London remains a preferred destination for many Filipinos with nursing
degrees.
 Indicators for Globality
3. To measure the economic competitiveness of a city the Economist
Intelligence Unit has added other criteria like market size, purchasing power
of citizens, size of the middle class, and potential for growth.
 Singapore is considered Asia’s most competitive city because of its strong
market, efficient and incorruptible government, and livability. It also houses the
regional offices of many major global corporations.
4. Global cities are also centers of authority
 Washington D.C, may not be as wealthy as New York but it is the seat of
American state power. Its major landmarks are the White House, the Capitol
Building (Congress), Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington
Monument.
 Indicators for Globality
5. The cities that house major international organization may also be
considered centers of political influence
 New York headquarters of United Nations
 Brussels headquarters of the European Union
 Jakarta not just capital of Indonesia, but also the location of the
headquarters of the ASEAN
6. Finally, global cities are centers of higher learning and culture
 New York City where we can find New York Times
Boston where we can visit the Harvard University
Los Angeles center of American film industry
Downsides in the Global City
 High housing cost
 Long working hours
 Competitive and precarious labor market
 Long commuting times
 Urban anonymity and relative social isolations
 A fear of strangers and crime after dark
 Residential hyper mobility
 Challenges of neighborliness and multiculturalism
 The Global City and the Poor
The rich grow richer and the poor get poorer through the egalitarianism
of exchange class division widen cities become more ghettoized as the rich
seal themselves off for protection while the poor become ghettoized by
default.
As a city attracts more capital and richer resident, real estate prices go
up and poor residents to far away but cheaper areas. This phenomenon of
driving out the poor in favor of newer wealthier residents is called
gentrification.
 Analyzing Global Cities
GaWC study
GaWC stands for "Globalization and World Cities." It is a research network and
academic project that studies the relationships between cities and their roles in the global
economy. The term "Global Cities" refers to cities that play significant roles in the
interconnected world economy, acting as major hubs for finance, commerce, culture, and
information exchange.
The GaWC research categorizes cities into different levels based on their integration
into the global economy and the extent of their influence. The ranking system classifies
cities into Alpha, Beta, and Gamma categories, with Alpha++ being the highest level of
global city and Gamma- being the lowest.
These rankings are determined based on various factors, including economic power,
financial services, cultural influence, political clout, knowledge creation, and connectivity
with other global cities. The research aims to understand the complexities of the global
urban network and how these cities interact to shape the dynamics of the global economy.
 Global City Index
Global City Index consist of indicators and parameters used to determine and measure
the categories of global cities and to what extent they function as global cities. Global Cities
Index uses criteria across five dimensions:
1. Business activity – presence of headquarters, services firms, number of international
conferences, value of goods through ports and airports.
2. Human capital – size of foreign-born population, quality of universities, number of
international schools, international student population.
3. Information exchange – accessibility of major TV news, number of international schools,
international student population.
4. Cultural experience – number of sporting events, museums, performing arts venues.
5. Political engagement – number of embassies, consulates, international organizations,
political conferences.
 Global Power City Index
Global Power City Index evaluates and ranks the major cities of the world
according to their magnetism or their comprehensive power to attract people,
capital, and enterprises from around the world. In 2011, a report called “The
Global Power City Index 2011” considered several functional areas:
I. Economy – refers to market attractiveness, economic vitality, business
environment, regulations, and risk.
II. Research and development – refers to research background, readiness for
accepting and supporting researches, and research achievement.
III. Cultural interaction – refers to trendsetting potential, accommodation
environment, dining and shopping, and volume of interaction
IV. Livability – refers to working environment, cost of living, security, and safety,
and life support functions
 Global Power City Index
V. Environment – refers to ecology, pollution, and natural environment.
VI. Accessibility – refers to international transport infrastructure and inner city
transportation infrastructure.
Top 10 Global Power Cities Source: 2022 GPCI
1. London
2. New York
3. Tokyo
4. Paris
5. Singapore
6. Amsterdam
7. Seoul
8. Berlin
9. Melbourne
10. Shanghai
 Global City and Mobility
Mobility refers to the movement of people, goods, and ideas within and
between urban areas. It is a critical aspect of urban life and plays a crucial role
in a city's economic development, social cohesion, and overall functionality.
Mobility includes various forms of transportation, such as cars, buses, trains,
bicycles, and walking, as well as the accessibility and efficiency of
transportation systems.
An increasing migration tendency and the desire to live in the cities bring
several problems closely knit to urbanization. One of these concern is the
mobility of people. By 2050, 70 percent of the people on earth will live in cities.
And if current trends continue, those people are likely to face even more
crowded conditions, polluted air, and overburdened infrastructures than we do
today
 Global City and Mobility
Urbanization statistics warn us that the quality of life in many cities will
be decided by the degree to which major cities can implement intelligent,
sustainable transport solutions. Traffic is indeed a problem especially in highly
populated cities. Traffic congestion is increasingly becoming a global issue, with
drivers spending nearly 50% of their driving time in traffic in some cities around
the world. The Philippines is no exception. In Manila traffic is worsening and
accordingly to a study done by the Boston Consulting Group, motorist and
commuters get stuck in traffic for an average of 66 minutes daily. The said
study conducted in 2017 places Metro Manila 3rd worst in the South East
Asian.
The worsening traffic in Metro Manila now
costs P3.5 billion in lost opportunities per
day, highlighting the need for new and
modern infrastructure to ease congestion
according to a study made by Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
 Summary Conclusion
In the contemporary world, global cities have emerged as crucial hubs of
economic, cultural, and political influence. They serve as central nodes in the
global network, attracting talent, businesses, and capital from around the world.
These cities play a pivotal role in shaping the modern landscape, with their
international connectivity, diverse populations, and cutting-edge infrastructure.
The rise of global cities has intensified competition for talent, investment, and
innovation, leading to a dynamic urban environment that fosters creativity and
progress. However, global cities also face challenges such as inequality,
environmental sustainability, and mobility issues that require thoughtful planning
and management. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, global
cities will continue to be key drivers of economic growth, cultural exchange, and
social transformation, shaping the trajectory of the contemporary world.