Global Power City Index
The first Japan-based comprehensive ranking
survey
of the major world cities
Abstract
Under severe global competition among cities, the Global Power City Index evaluates and ranks the "Comprehensive Power" of the major cities in the world with a very unique method developed by the Institute for Urban Strategies at The Mori Memorial Foundation. There is an assumption that the integration of variety of powers that attract creative people and companies from all over the world is the "Comprehensive Power of a city."
Global Power City Index is the first ranking survey for international cities undertaken in Japan. 40 major cities in the world are selected and evaluated based on 70 indicators of city function in six main functions representing city strength such as "Economy," "Research and Development," "Cultural Interaction," "Livability," "Environment," and "Accessibility." Furthermore, evaluation is carried out from the view points of four global actors who are leading the urban activities in their cities such as "Manager," "Researcher," "Artist," and "Visitor" and one local actor, "Resident." A matrix composing city actors and city function indicators is created and the evaluation is carried out in multiple methods. This research is very unique in the world that evaluates cities from both subjective and objective perspectives, based on city functions and city actors.
This research is carried out with the involvement of academics such as Sir Perter Hall, a global authority in city planning, as well as Dr. Richard Bender, Dr. Saskia Sassen, and other renowned international scholars. Peer review by third parties are carried out as well to maintain the fairness of the ranking.
The Cities
GPCI-2013 Comprehensive Ranking Top 5
 
 London
 
 New York
 
 Paris
 
 Tokyo
 
 Singapore
 
Function-specific Comprehensive Ranking
 
 
As with last year, London, New York,  Paris and Tokyo are ranked as the top four cities respectively in the 2013 GPCI  comprehensive rankings.
  London’s Livability score has been lowered, but due to increased scores in  Economy, Research and Development and Environment, the overall score difference  between London and New York has widened. Paris and Tokyo have seen a  significant decrease in their scores and the gap between them and 2nd place has  grown larger, while the score difference between 4th placed Tokyo and 5th  placed Singapore has shrunk. Looking only at the relationship between Tokyo and  Paris, the difference in score has shrunk from last year and the possibility  has emerged that Tokyo could move into 3rd place on the back of the  announcement that the city will play host to the Olympic Games.
  As for trends in comprehensive rankings  for cities placed 5th and lower, 6th placed Seoul has largely closed the gap on  Singapore at No. 5, while Frankfurt and Vienna have risen in the rankings. In  particular, Frankfurt’s scores for  Environment and Accessibility increased, which contributed to a move in  comprehensive ranking from 12th to 10th.
  Meanwhile, there has been marked growth  in Economy for both of the Chinese cities. More specifically, in Economy,  Beijing is still ranked No. 3 but its score has risen while scores for the  cities ranked 1st and 2nd have seen a major decline. Despite trailing Beijing  in Economy, Shanghai's scores for Cultural Interaction and Accessibility have  risen significantly and the city has overtaken Beijing, in 14th place, to be  now ranked 12th in the comprehensive rankings.
 
GPCI-2013 Comprehensive Ranking Top 5
- 
  
 New York
- 
  
 London
- 
  
 Paris
- 
  
 Tokyo
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 Singapore
 
 
ORGANIZATION
Methodology - Function-specific Ranking
70 Indicators are referenced and customized from the statistical data issued from worldwide authorities, created based on the questionnaire survey conducted by The Mori Memorial Foundation, and produced by the own research by The Mori Memorial Foundation.
Sum of each score gained from each indicator are assembled in each function and finally become the total score of the city.
 
Methodology - Actor-specific Ranking
Flow of Creating the Actor-specific Ranking
|  
 MANAGER
Businessman(51, M)
Expat of a global financial corporationAccompanying wife and two childrenOffered a position as a managing director in Asian brunchesCandidate cities are Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore |  
 RESEARCHER
Researcher(31, M)
Ph.D. candidate as a foreign studentMarried with a classmate in the same program last yearNeed to make a decision soon which organization in which country to do research after graduation |  
 ARTIST
Artist(24, F)
Single, born in Germany, grew up in TokyoGraduate student in modern art and decided to become a professional artist after graduationConsidering which city  is the best for pursuing creative activities |  
 VISITOR
Tourist(28, F)
Office employee for a Japanese companyIncome has raised as promoting her careerTraveling abroad for several times every yearPlanning the next travel for the coming summer vacation |  
 RESIDENT
Resident(36, M)
Born and grew up in his home cityEmployed in a company  based in his home cityMarried with a class mate from the same city and has a 2 year old sonPondering whether to move out when purchasing a home | 
|  
 MANAGER
This offer must be an important turning point in his career.  Which city should he chose under several choices?- To develop a successful career, the better would be the more business opportunity.  The scale and growth of business should be taken into account.- Smooth transaction under reasonable restriction should be important for ease in business.- As a managing director, many local staffs should be hired.  Availability of excellent human resources and business partners is important.- Accompanying family, living environment such as security, pollution, education, and community should be considered. |  
 RESEARCHER
He wishes to develop his career as a researcher.  Where should he base to deepen his specialty under  an ideal environment?- To dig his major deeper, it would be ideal to be in a prominent institution with famous professors and rich facility.  Quality of institutions, researchers, and directors must be the most important.- Opportunity in obtaining information of other researches through symposiums or  academic network would motivate his research.- Research grant and housing support would help him concentrate in his research.  Alternatives in open careers is also important.- His wife also wishes to continue research so that academic and living environment are both need to be checked. |  
 ARTIST
What is needed for her to be acknowledged as an artist?
What kind of environment would be ideal for her to become professional?- First she need is a studio. It is important to rent certain space with reasonable price for her production.- Cultural stimulus from the environment and other artists is a critical factor in pursuing art.- Exhibition spaces such as galleries and museums have to be abundant for her exposure as an artist.- She has to sell her products to live as an artist.  Mature market with collectors and curators would be critical.  She could be supported by a patron if her work is highly evaluated. |  
 VISITOR
She is planning a long vacation so that she wishes to carefully select the most valuable place from many alternatives.  Where should she travel?- She wants to forget her daily life being exposed in a environment with good ambience in a secure place.- Popular tourism destinations such as world heritages are critical factors.- Choice of accommodation in variety of ranks is also important.- Dining is also one of the pleasures of travel. Good. restaurants have to be listed.- Final item is shopping. Souvenirs those cannot get in Japan are precious. |  
 RESIDENT
He has lived in his home city with no doubt however, started wondering if this should last forever. What is important for him and his family in their life?- Most important is the general prices and living environment.- Steady job or its opportunity  with a reasonable income is necessary in living.- Education is also important thinking about the future of his son.- Enjoying holidays with family under variety of leisure activities should  enrich their life.- Daily life in a safe and easing society with low rate of crime and high level of  welfare would be ideal | 
Profiles of each Actor are assumed and agendas in evaluating cities
from the standing point of those Actors are considered.
|  
 MANAGER
Accumulation of enterprises & business deals at or above a given levelPotential of business growth Ease of business (incl. regulations and taxes)Business surroundingsAvailability of human resourcesAccumulation of business support industryFavorable environment for business and for employee’s familiesPolitics, Economy, Disaster risk |  
 RESEARCHER
Quality of research institutions, researchers and directors 
Accumulation of research institutes & researchersExistence of opportunities and venues that stimulate research activityReadiness to accept researchers (research funding, support with living expenses, etc.)Potential after graduation (job, etc.)Living environment |  
 ARTIST
Cultural stimulusConcentration of artistsArt marketsEnvironment (studio space, etc.) for Creative ActivitiesLiving environment (ease of living) |  
 VISITOR
Cultural appeal and opportunities for interactionPublic safetyTourist DestinationsAccommodations at or exceeding a certain levelDining options, cost, etc.Shopping environment, cost, appeal, etc.Mobility (time to destination, fares, etc.) |  
 RESIDENT
Economic environment (prices, ease of purchasing etc.)Living environment (dwelling environment etc.)Work environment (income, job opportunities)Educational environmentLeisure activities Safety and securityHealthcare standard | 
Factor Demanded by Each Actor are extracted from the agendas and listed below.
Specific indicators to evaluate each Actor’ s score are selected from
the 70 Indicators in the matrix with 33 Factor Demanded by Each Actor and summed up as Actor-based score.
 
Contact:
Institute for Urban Strategies
The Mori Memorial Foundation
Chiharu Hirota, Yasuyuki Miwa
Email: gpci@mori-m-foundation.or.jp
 
Link to the GPCI previous reports