ABSTRACT
Admittedly, nylon is an amazing material. This synthetic fiber, developed by DuPont in the 1930s, can be woven into fabrics that will not rip (good for parachutes) or puncture (good for luggage). However, despite nylon's durability, what really holds the world together from the perspective of global urban networks is NY–LON: the intense economic and social linkage between New York and London. As the twin centers of the business world, CEOs and other executives commute between them on over twenty-five daily nonstop flights. As home to the world's largest financial markets—the New York and London stock exchanges—billions of dollars change hands within and between them, eventually filtering down to other cities around the world. As capitals of culture, they exchange details about the latest developments in music and fashion to keep trendsetters on both sides of the Atlantic informed. This linkage, under development since 1664, is today the primary connection between ‘old world’ Europe and ‘new world’ North America. By facilitating—or in some cases, blocking—interaction between other cities throughout these continents, it plays a pivotal role in how business gets done and trends get set.
