Global Power City Index - 2008
The first Japan-based comprehensive ranking
survey of the major world cities

Under the severe international 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 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. 30 major cities in the world are selected and evaluated based on 63 indicators of city function in six main functions representing city strength such as "Economy," "Research & Development," "Cultural Interaction," "Livability," and "Space & Access." Furthermore, evaluation is carried out from the view points of four global actors who are leading the urban activities in their cities such as "Managers," "Researchers," "Artists," and "Visitors" and one local actor, "Residents." 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 methods, 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.

GPCI-2008 Comprehensive Ranking Top5

• 
  New York
• 
  London
• 
  Paris
• 
  Tokyo
• 
  Vienna

Function-based Comprehensive Ranking

The top three of the function-specific comprehensive ranking are New York, London and Paris. Tokyo is ranked fourth; however, the gap between fourth and third is comparatively wide and it can be said that Tokyo is running top in the second group of cities under the severe competition.

Function-based Ranking

There are some cities which stay low in the total ranking but are ranked high in specific functions, such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Berlin in the "Living and Environment" and "Space and Accessibility" functions.
In Asia there are a number of cities ranked high in the "Economy" function, while in Europe there are many cities ranked high in the "Culture and Interaction," "Living and Environment," and "Space and Accessibility" functions.

Actor-based Ranking

When examined from the standpoint of any of the four global actors, who are leading the urban activities in their cities, and their residents, New York, London, and Paris are highly attractive cities. These three cities are special in obtaining overall city appeal, putting their scores far higher than any other city.
Of the 30 cities surveyed, over half of all Asian cities are ranked 21st or lower with respect to each actor segment, except for "Managers." In particular, a large number of Asian cities received remarkably low evaluations from the “Residents” perspective.

Relationship between Function-based Ranking and Actor-based Ranking

Cities with high score in "Economy" indicators, such as GDP and accumulation of enterprises, are not always viewed as attractive cities from the standpoint of "Managers."

Comparison of Tokyo with the Top Three Cities (New York, London, Paris)

Tokyo is drastically inferior in the "Culture and Interaction" and "Space and Accessibility" functions in the function-based evaluations. As for actor-based evaluations, Tokyo is on a par with top 3 cities from the standpoints of "Researchers," "Artists," and "Residents." However, Tokyo scores significantly low from the standpoint of "Managers" and "Visitors."

Comparison of Tokyo with the Major Economic Cities of Asia

Tokyo is extremely strong in "Research & Development" function among major economic cities in Asia. However, it has no particular advantage over other Asian cities in the "Living and Environment" and "Space and Accessibility" functions.
Actor-based evaluations also showed that Tokyo is highly ranked from the "Researchers" perspective but ranked relatively low even within Asian cities from the standpoint of "Managers" and "Visitors."

Comparison of Tokyo with the Five Major Cities in the BRICs Countries

When compared with the cities of the rapidly developing (B)RICs countries, Tokyo has a demonstrable advantage in the functions of "Economy," "Research & Development," and "Living and Environment." However, in the "Economy" function, Hong Kong and Shanghai have similar scores, meaning Tokyo’s advantage is not always secured for the future. Furthermore, Hong Kong outranks Tokyo in "Managers" and "Visitors" in actor-based rankings.

Challenges for Tokyo compared with the World’s Major Cities

In order for Tokyo to raise its level of attractiveness for "Managers," it needs to improve its business environment by relaxing regulations and taxes, reducing the danger posed by natural disasters, and by promoting other measures which will increase the ease of doing business. In order for Tokyo to raise its level of attractiveness for "Visitors," it needs to improve its tourism environment, such as by increasing the number of foreigner-friendly hotels and by developing, maintaining and improving appealing tourism resources.

Elements to evaluate each function of city are listed up on the right and 63 Indicators to mathematically evaluate each element are formulated to the left

63 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, or 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.

MANAGERS Businessman （50, M） Expat of a global financial corporation Accompanying wife and two children Offered a position as a managing director in Asian brunches Candidate cities are Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore

RESEARCHERS Researcher （30, M） Ph.D. candidate as a foreign student Married with a classmate in the same program last year Need to make a decision soon which organization in which country to do research after graduation

ARTISTS Artist （24, F） Single, born in Germany, grew up in Tokyo Graduate student in modern art and decided to become a professional artist after graduation Considering which city is the best for pursuing creative activities

VISITORS Tourist （28, F） Office employee for a Japanese company Income has raised as promoting her career Traveling abroad for several times every year Planning the next travel for the coming summer vacation

RESIDENTS Resident （34, M） Born and grew up in his home city Employed in a company based in his home city Married with a class mate from the same city and has a 2 year old son Pondering whether to move out when purchasing a home

MANAGERS 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.

RESEARCHERS 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.

ARTISTS 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.

RESIDENTS 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.

MANAGERS Accumulation of enterprises & business deals at or above a given level Potential of business growth Ease of business (incl. regulations and taxes) Business surroundings Availability of human resources Accumulation of business support industry Favorable environment for business and for employee’s families Politics, Economy, Disaster risk

RESEARCHERS Quality of research institutions, researchers and directors Accumulation of research institutes & researchers Existence of opportunities and venues that stimulate research activity Readiness to accept researchers (research funding, support with living expenses, etc.) Potential after graduation (job, etc.) Living environment

ARTISTS Cultural stimulus Concentration of artists Art markets Environment (studio space, etc.) for Creative Activities Living environment (ease of living)

VISITORS Cultural appeal and opportunities for interaction Public safety Tourist Destinations Accommodations at or exceeding a certain level Dining options, cost, etc. Shopping environment, cost, appeal, etc. Mobility (time to destination, fares, etc.)

RESIDENTS Economic environment (prices, ease of purchasing etc.) Living environment (dwelling environment etc.) Work environment (income, job opportunities) Educational environment Leisure activities Safety and security Healthcare standard

Key elements for each Actor are extracted from the agendas and listed below.
Specific indicators to evaluate each Actor’ s score are selected from
the 63 indicators in the matrix with 33 Key elements and summed up as Actor-based score.

Under the evolution of the social structure following the spread of world wide economic crisis and other agendas such as energy or environmental issues, roles for global cities seem to become more critical in the world. In this trend of the world, "GPCI-2009" has been initiated to pursue the situation of global cities and find out the expectations for each city including Tokyo. For GPCI-2009, targeted cities has been increased from 30 to 35 cities and new indicators has been applied as well as improving methodologies in evaluating cities.

Furthermore, to deepen the analysis in the structure of the global cities, the concept of "Global Circuit," introduced by Prof. Saskia Sassen, has been involved in the research. Also, leading cities in the world and in Asia are focused and analyzed in those indicators for each function of the city deeper to reveal their potentials of the power.