The 2008 Global Cities Index

What makes a global city? The term conjures a command center for the cognoscenti. It means power, sophistication, wealth and influence. To call a global city your own suggests that the ideas and values of your metropolis shape the world. And to a large extent that’s true. The cities that host the biggest capital markets, elite universities, most diverse and well-educated populations, wealthiest multinationals and most powerful international organizations are connected to the rest of the world in ways unlike any other. But, more than anything, the cities that rise to the top of the list are those that continue to forge global links despite intensely complex economic environments.

A.T. Kearney teamed up with Foreign Policy and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs to create the Global Cities Index, a uniquely comprehensive ranking of the ways in which cities are integrating with the rest of the world. In constructing this Index of the world’s most global cities, we collected and analyzed a broad array of data, ranking cities’ metro areas according to 24 metrics across five dimensions.

The Winner’s Circle

The results prove there is no such thing as a perfect global city, for no city dominated all dimensions of the Index. However, a few came close. New York emerged as the number one global city this year, followed by London, Paris and Tokyo (see figure). Although the winners may be the usual suspects, they have plenty of new competition. First runner-up London won in the cultural experience category, with Paris and New York not far behind. Third-ranked Paris led the world in the information exchange category, while Tokyo took the fifth spot primarily due to its strong showing in business activity. And, although it finished 11th overall, Washington, D.C., easily beat out New York, Brussels and Paris as the leader in political engagement.

What’s in Store for the Future

As the world readjusts to the fits and starts of a volatile global economy and other transnational problems such as climate change, human trafficking and fuel shortages, the Global Cities Index will track the way cities maneuver as their populations grow and the world’s boundaries shrink. Paul Laudicina, managing officer and chairman of the board of A.T. Kearney, explains, “What’s most important about the Global Cities Index is that it provides perspective at a time when the value of globalization is being called into question. If global conditions worsen, you will see growth in people migrating to cities for what they see as better economic opportunities.” Cities in emerging markets may well be set to challenge established leaders in the years ahead.

For more information about the study findings and the complete rankings, go to The 2008 Global Cities Index, or visit www.foreignpolicy.com.