A.T. Kearney's Global Cities of North America, 2016 (best, better, largest)

[Trafalgar Law]

A total of 125 Global Cities across the planet were evaluated for this years A.T. Kearney Global Cities report, the largest pool ever. However, only these cities listed below made the cut on their shortlist.

Global Cities Index, 2016:
02. New York
06. Los Angeles
07. Chicago
10. Washington D.C.
17. Toronto
23. San Francisco
24. Boston

Global Cities Outlook, 2016:
01. San Francisco
02. New York
03. Boston
05. Houston
06. Atlanta
11. Chicago
18. Toronto
20. Dallas
21. Los Angeles
25. Vancouver

Global Elite Cities, 2016:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Toronto
- San Francisco
- Boston

The factors they inducted into their research were Business Activity (30%), Human Capital (30%), Information Exchange (15%), Cultural Experience (15%), and Political Engagement (10%).

In the world, of the 5 factors listed in the sentence directly above; New York is the #1 city on Earth for both Business Activity and Human Capital. While Washington D.C. is the #1 city on Earth for Political Engagement.

Further breakdowns of criteria within each of the 5 main factors are as below;

- Business Activity: Global Service Firms, Fortune 500s, Capital Markets, Air Freights, Sea Freights, ICCA Conferences/Global Conferences.

- Human Capital: Foreign Born Population, Top Universities, Population with tertiary degrees, International Student Population, and Number of International and Global Schools.

- Information Exchange: Access to media and news, News Agency Bureaus, Broadband Subscribers with Global Media Outlets, Freedom of Expression, and Online Presence.

- Cultural Experience: Museums, Visual and Performing Arts, Sporting Events, International Travelers, Culinary Offerings, and Sister Cities Impact and/or Connection.

- Political Engagement: Embassies and Consulates, Think-tanks, International Organizations, Political Conferences, and Local Institutions with Global Reach.

Among these sub-categories, some American cities finished in the top of the world in select categories. They are as follows; New York is the Earth's #1 city in Capital Markets, Foreign-Born Population, Visual and Performing Arts, Culinary Offerings, and Local Institutions with Global Reach. Two other American cities also led in these sub-categories; Boston with "Top Universities" in the world, and Washington D.C. with "Think-tanks."

For cities that are rated in the "Global Cities Outlook" lists, they also had specific criteria to go along with the aforementioned factors and criteria detailed in the sentences above this line. Mexico City, which was not ranked on any of the 3 shortlists (Global Cities Index, Global Cities Outlook, and Global Elite Cities) was evaluated along with 125 of the world's cities, and then through the process of elimination only the top 25 in each category remained to represent the world's best. Getting back to the point with Mexico City, while it did not crack any of the top lists, through evaluation it was determined that Mexico City led or co-led all cities analyzed at the following categories (globally speaking of course); University Sponsored Incubators. Other cities in North America that were #1 in the world in additional factors for "Global Cities Outlook" were San Francisco (Private Investments and University Sponsored Incubators; New York (Private Investment), and Houston (Patents Per Capita).

Here is the PDF link to the report: https://www.atkearney.com/documents/...d-11c5d347451a

[DevanXL]

Never really took these rankings for much, Always seemed very strange how they determine the rankings

[jdaelectro]

Here's the overall list with how many spots they changed from last year. Looks like London took top spot this year, dethroning NYC.

2. NYC -1
6. LA 0
7. Chicago 0
10. D.C. n/a
17. Toronto -4
23. San Francisco -1
24. Boston -1
27. Montreal -3
30. Miami +1
37. Vancouver +2
38. Houston -4
39. Mexico City -4
40. Atlanta -3
47. Philly -1
51. Dallas -2
72. Phoenix -5
98. Monterrey 0
99. Guadalajara -5

[theterribleone]

Shocked at Toronto being so far behind DC.

[Pyroninja42]

Originally Posted by theterribleone

Shocked at Toronto being so far behind DC.

Why? DC is the capital of the most powerful country on Earth.

[qworldorder]

Philadelphia a top 50 city, and ranked over Dallas, a larger and much faster growing Sunbelt metro? We'll take it!

[theterribleone]

Originally Posted by Pyroninja42

Why? DC is the capital of the most powerful country on Earth.

But Toronto is the largest city in it's country with better transit and diversity. I digress though, they've been at this longer.

[OuttaTheLouBurbs]

Disappointing underrepresentation of the Midwest. Not meant as an indictment of the methodology (not necessarily anyway), but I mourn our region's loss of importance to our nation. Although I'm willing to wager Minneapolis and Detroit will be in that mix in 20 years. Maybe Pittsburgh and Cleveland too if things go well for both.

[jdaelectro]

Definitely surprised to not see Seattle or Detroit on the list. Cool to see Phoenix on it, though.

[jdaelectro]

Originally Posted by theterribleone

But Toroento is the largest city in it's country with better transit and diversity.

Yes, but the entire country has a smaller population than California. Toronto being 17th in the world is nothing to be ashamed of. Also, Montreal and Vancouver being in the top 40 of the world is pretty impressive.