Global cities

Global cities (sometimes referred to as power cities, world cities, alpha cities or world centres) are cities that form primary urban hubs in the global economy.

The term originated in the 1980’s during research into common the characteristics of the world’s most significant cities, and has been popularised more recently with the focus on globalisation. Globalisation has become one of the key phenomena of the modern life, but there controversy about what it actually means and whether and how far it is to be welcomed. For more information see: Globalisation.

Global cities can be seen as key nodes in the global network of industry, culture, finance, and communications. As a result they have creative, competitive, political and economic advantages and are in some ways more connected to other global cities than they are to the countries that they are part of. At the same time however, they are in competition with the other global cities.

Global cities are linked to the rise of global companies and global supply chains. However, they can suffer from societal fragmentation with large disparities between the living standards of traditional workers relative to those in well-paid, globalised roles.

Criteria for the designation of global cities is highly contested, but generally global cities are thought to include:

• New York.
• Paris.
• Tokyo.
• London.
• Hong Kong.
• Singapore.
• Shanghai.
• Dubai.
• Paris.
• Los Angeles.
• Berlin.

The term ‘megacity’ refers to metropolitan areas with a total population of more than 10 million people. For more information see: Megacity.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• City.
• Combined authorities.
• Conurbation.
• Cosmopolitan.
• Globalisation.
• Megacity.
• Megalopolis.
• Metropolis.
• Municipality.
• Principality.
• Rural.
• Smart city.
• Town.
• Types of city.
• Urban.