Determinants of spatio-temporal dynamics in the world urban system, 2000-2008

This paper presents an analysis of the determinants of the changing importance of major cities as globalized service centers in the period 2000-2008. Drawing on the theoretical research of Saskia Sassen and the subsequent empirical research of the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) group, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the world urban system is measured through a systematic assessment of changes in the geography of the office networks of leading globalized service firms between 2000 and 2008. This calculation of the changing position of 308 cities across the world is thereupon used as the dependent variable in a model through which we test a number of hypotheses concerning the determinants of change. Our study analyzes urban-economic change both in general and in sectoral terms (finances, accountancy, law, advertising, management consultancy). We also investigate how the changing network structures of firms from the same sector and from other sectors influence a firms' location strategy in a worldwide urban geography.

Publication year:2010