ABSTRACT
The formation and growth of global cities (Sassen 1991, 1994, 2001) or world cities (Friedmann 1986, 1995), terms used synonymously for our purpose (compare Taylor 1997 for this), is triggered by global economic change. Friedmann, Sassen and others found that the world-wide networks of production, finance, trade, power and migration require nodal points providing the infrastructure, information and financial resources that make the networks work. Global cities are therefore mostly classified by economic criteria of which three categories can be distinguished,
● institutions: presence and size of stock exchanges, banks, international law firms and other producer service providers;
● connectivity: linkages to global networks, visitors, passenger flights, long distance calls, financial transactions and Internet usage;
● power: location of regional headquarters, decision-making within corporate command, and control chains and supranational institutions.
