Due to the high degree of fragmentation in the urban structure, we must apply more comprehensive concepts to describe the city of São Paulo. However, scholars do not necessarily agree, especially with regard to the classification of São Paulo as a global city. By analyzing the position of São Paulo in the worldwide city network with the help of demographic and economic indicators, we can find evidence for its being both a megacity and a global city. Obviously, demographic and economic developments have correlated for a long time. Although the question of how to classify São Paulo depends on current indicators, a brief look at the (economic) history of the city will help us understand its present state. 1 However, if we look at the city from an international viewpoint, will the classification be the same? In order to answer this question, we will first consider the two terms “global city” and “megacity”, the first of which has strong economic connotations, whereas the latter is mainly defined by population size. Economically speaking, being responsible for 12% of the national Brazilian GDP and double the GDP per capita of Brazil, it is the leading national metropolis. The GaWC gives a "+" or "-" to characterize the strength of each city in its category.1 São Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil and, with its metropolitan region, one of the largest agglomerations worldwide. The cities are rated in terms of international influence, population, international airports, transportation systems, foreign investment, the number of expats, large companies or headquarters of institutions, globally-influential media and large ports. GaWC, based out of Loughborough University in the UK, has ranked 361 major cities worldwide into four categories: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Sufficiency. Taipei and Guangzhou are on the Alpha- list, while Shenzhen is listed as a Beta city.īasically speaking, ranking of top four Chinese mainland cities by GaWC was in line with traditionally-acknowledged ranking. Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai are in the Alpha+ category. London and New York top the list as Alpha++. Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai have been included in the so-called Alpha+ category of international cities based on analysis by a think tank called Globalization and World Cities (GaWC), reports.
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