Research Briefing | Dec 15, 2021

The rise of urban economic powerhouses

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The top 900 Global Cities currently produce almost 60% of all world economic activity, and they will grow in importance as urbanisation continues. By 2040, these cities will be home to half a billion additional people. But we forecast significant growth disparities between cities, and therefore expect to see considerable changes in the urban economic landscape over this period. 

What you will learn:

  • New York will retain its number 1 status as the largest city economy.
  • City economies have rebounded strongly to the challenges posed by Coronavirus.
  • There are 16 cities in the world today with GDP over $500bn…To put this in context, only 26 countries reach this scale.
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