Pathways of Change: Shifting Connectivities in the World City Network, 2000—08

Abstract

This is an empirical paper that measures and interprets changes in intercity relations at the global scale in the period [2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008]. We draw on the network model devised by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) research group to measure global connectivities for 307 cities across the world in 2000 and 2008. The measurements for both years are adjusted so that a coherent set of services/cities is used. A range of statistical techniques is used to explore these changes at the city level and the regional scale. The most notable changes are (i) the general rise of connectivity in the world city network, (ii) the loss of global connectivity of US and Sub-Saharan African cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami in particular), and (iii) the gain in global connectivity of South Asian, Chinese and Eastern European cities (Shanghai, Beijing and Moscow in particular).

Exploring the co-evolution of the geographies of air transport aviation and corporate networks

“…However, this overall rise obscures broader changes, as only 93 major offices remained in place and 139 and 240 major offices were closed/downgraded or opened/upgraded, respectively (for more details on change in the world city hierarchy, see Derudder et al, 2010). However, these changes have not implied a major overhaul in the Outdegree ranking, as a lot of changes in either direction are concentrated in the same set of cities, with London, New York and Hong Kong leading in Outdegree (i.e.…”

World City Network Integration in the Eurasian Realm

“…• Global network connectivity in sectoral terms 5 Although the 2008 data gathering is slightly different in terms of the number of cities, the number of firms, and the distribution of firms over sectors, we transformed the data so that both sets of results can be compared (for technical details, see Derudder et al, 2010). GNC measures and changes therein can also be assessed on a sectoral basis, which allows for a more detailed account of which sectors drive the connectivity growth of individual cities or regions in general.…”

“…use of and report on the connectivities and hinterworlds of the 248 cities with a GNC of at least 10% of the leading city in 2008 (London) 4 . 4 There is one exception in that -in order to maintain consistency with earlier reports -overall connectivities (GNC) are calculated on the basis of 307 cities that featured in both 2000 and 2008 datasets (see Derudder et al, 2010). In practice, this use of different sets of cities for computing connectivities and hinterworlds has very little influence on the results.…”

L’état des métropoles : évaluation du changement dans les villes mondiales

“…Des symboles « + » et « -» sont utilisés pour identifier les sous-catégories, en commençant par celle des villes Alpha++ et en descendant jusqu'au bas de la hiérarchie. Dans cet ordre d'idées, nous attirons l'attention des lecteurs sur les tableaux 3, 4 et 5 qui présentent les villes « gagnantes » et « perdantes » par rapport aux résultats de l'index de connectivité du GaWC, mais aussi selon les changements nominaux ou de catégorie tout au long de la décennie (Derudder et al, 2010).…”