Cities are ecosystems for businesses and innovation. The strength of an urban center’s network of businesses, the talent of its citizenry, the stability of its political institutions, and the creativity of its cultural organizations all contribute to an environment in which existing businesses flourish and new businesses are born. A.T. Kearney’s Global Cities has been collecting data on these factors and others for the world’s most important cities since 2008. This 2018 Global Cities report, the eighth edition, testifies to the continued strength of many of the world’s largest cities in these domains.

1. #GlobalCities
Which Global Cities
Are Primed for
Urban Transformation,
Investment,
and Growth?
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2. A.T. Kearney’s 2018
Global Cities report
looks at 135 of the
world’s most influential
cities as well as those
that are likely to
become more
important on the
global stage.
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3. The 2018 Global Cities
report includes the
Global Cities Index,
which examines cities’
performance, and the
Global Cities Outlook,
which evaluates their
potential.
2018 Global Cities Report Read full report

4. Global Cities Index
New York holds on
to the top spot in the
Global Cities Index
because of
improvements in
business activity
and human capital
(driven by education).
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5. Global Cities Index
2018 reflects minimum movement
in the top 10 cities from 2017.
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Source: A.T. Kearney Global Cities 2018
2017 rank City
1
2
3
4
5
8
6
7
9
11
—
—
—
—
—
+2
–1
–1
—
+1
New York
London
Paris
Tokyo
Hong Kong
Los Angeles
Singapore
Chicago
Beijing
Brussels
2018 rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
∆

6. Global Cities Outlook
San Francisco
continues to hold its
grip on first position
and its continued
dominance in the
innovation dimension
as reflected in its
patent activity.
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7. Source: A.T. Kearney Global Cities 2018
2017 rank City
1
2
4
3
11
16
7
5
8
6
—
—
+1
–1
+6
+10
—
–3
–1
–4
San Francisco
New York
London
Paris
Singapore
Amsterdam
Munich
Boston
Houston
Melbourne
2018 rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
∆
Global Cities Outlook
Amsterdam and Singapore joined the top 10 by increasing
FDI inflow and private investments respectively.
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8. Global Elite
There are 17 cities that comprise the Global Elite—cities that rank in the top 25 of both the Index and
the Outlook: New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, Chicago, Brussels, Washington, D.C.,
Sydney, Toronto, Moscow, Melbourne, San Francisco, Boston, Berlin, Vienna, and Amsterdam.
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9. A.T. Kearney offers
historical perspective
gained from a decade
of collecting data and
advises governments
and companies on
strategies to achieve
short-term success
and long-term growth.
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10. Businesses use the Global
Cities report and findings
to make strategic decisions
about their operations and
identify economically
stable and dynamic
metropolitan areas
with high-quality talent
for future investment
and growth.
2018 Global Cities Report Read full report

11. 2018 Global Cities Report
A.T. Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with offices in 40 countries.
Since 1926, we have been trusted advisors to the world’s foremost organizations. A.T. Kearney
is a partner-owned firm, committed to helping clients achieve immediate impact and growing
advantage on their most mission-critical issues. For more information, visit www.atkearney.com.
Consult with our experts on
your growth, relocation,
operating hub, localization,
or other target strategies.
Read full report Talk to our experts
#GlobalCities