Contemporary Urban Environments- World Cities

Question 1

Define mega city

Answer 1

Mega cities have a population of over 10 million people

Question 2

Define world city

Answer 2

• majority of world cities found in HICs
• not necessarily largest in terms of pop.
• disproportionately important in the global economy

Question 3

Alpha ++ cities

Answer 3

More integrated than all other cities and constitute their own high level of integration (eg. London and New York)

Question 4

Characteristics of a world city

Answer 4

• multifunctional infrastructure- offering some of best medical/legal facilities in the country
• variety of international financial services
• centres of media and communication
• HQ for many TNCs
• domination of trade and economy of surrounding areas
• centres of innovation

Question 5

What makes London a global city?

Answer 5

• transport hub to many European/global destinations
• ethnically diverse (1/3 of pop. ethnic minority background)
• home to 33% of European HQs in Global 500
• over 30% of the world’s currency exchange takes place here
• 80% of business done is international