London, New York and Tokyo as Global Cities - Research Paper Example

London, New York and Tokyo as Global Cities: A Comparative Analysis Introduction London, New York and Tokyo are among the most prominent economic, cultural, entertainment, healthcare and labor hubs of the world. In the United Kingdom, London, with a population of 8.3 million, is England’s and the United Kingdom’s capital city. Founded by the Romans, London stands on River Thames and has acted as a key settlement spot for almost two millennia (Beaverstock 114). New York City, located in New York State in the Northeastern expanse of the United States, is the state’s and nation’s most populous city. Courtesy of New York City, New York State is presently the United States’ largest and busiest immigration gateway. Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, is also the world’s largest metropolitan area and among Japan’s 47 prefectures. Ancient history suggests that Tokyo was a fishing village in the 15th century, but has evolved through being a cultural, religious and military stronghold to its present economic giant status. Presently, Tokyo is home to the Imperial Family of Japan and the government’s headquarters. In the context of “global cities”, London, New York and Tokyo lead the world, and are classified as Alpha++ cities. Alpha++ cities are the most globally integrated cities with other. In this perspective, global cities form critical nodes in the worldwide economic framework (U.S. Census Bureau 96). The first part of this paper will provide a brief historical background and overall economic profile of the three cities. Then, it will examine the details of size and diversity of the population and labor migration of the three cities. London Brief History London first appeared in history as a military outpost and storage depot when Britain was invaded by the Romans. Its geographical position made it an ideal trading hub with the rest of the continent, which facilitated its subsequent transformation into a port. Although it was burnt down in the revolt against the Roman rule, it was already the finance headquarters of Roma Britain. After rebuilding, it was again named the financial center as well as the provincial, commercial and administrative capital for Roman Britain. Christianity arrived with the Danes after the Roman Empire collapsed but was initially resisted and city walls erected, with an army in place. In 1176, a new stone bridge replaced the wooden one built by the Romans. During the reign of Edward III, London became a true capital (Beaverstock 121). Economic Profile Presently, finance remains the largest industry in London, with financial exports contributing largely to the balance payments of the United Kingdom. This makes it a key economic and commercial center for multiple interests on the international business platform, ranking fifth among the world’s largest city economies. In 2012, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at slightly above $ 731 billion. Per capita GDP for the same year was at $51,798 (U.S. Census Bureau 78). With its economic profile, London as a city has been generating about 20 percent of the entire United Kingdom’s GDP for the past decade, while the metropolitan area on its own generates 30 percent. As per statistics at the beginning of 2013, with over 841,000 businesses in the private sector, London had the highest number businesses than all other regions and countries in the United Kingdom. Out of the private sector businesses, 30 percent are collectively in the professional, technical, scientific and construction industries, forming a significant part of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The major business districts are, in ascending order, Lambeth & Southwark, Canary Wharf, Camden & Islington, Westminster and The City, where economic activities range from accountancy to legal, real estate, architecture and government operations (Scheltema & Westerhuijs 69). Size and Diversity of the Population Between the 16th and 19th centuries, London’s population grew from 50,000 to 900,000 in spite of unhealthy living conditions, especially in the era of George II. The industrial revolution ensured London’s urbanization and transformation to what it is today (Beaverstock 108). Today, London has a population of 8.1 million people as per 2011 estimates, 59.8 percent of which are White. That makes it the most urban and populous metropolitan in the United Kingdom. Out of the 59.8 percent, 44.9, 2.2, 0.1 and 12.1 percent are White British, White Irish, Irish travelers and other Whites respectively. Among the rest of the population, Asians, including those of mixed descendent, form 20.9 percent. Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Chinese and Arabs come in at 6.6, 2.7, 2.7, 1.5 and 1.3 percent respectively. This makes 36.7 percent of the city’s total population foreign-born citizens. As per the 2011 statistics, English was the main language to over six million people aged above three years in London, with 1.4 million using it fluently as a second language. The 10 most common languages, in order of popularity, are Polish, Bengali, Gujarati, French, Urdu, Portuguese, Turkish, Spanish, Arabic and Tamil. They are, respectively, represented by 1.9, 1.5, 1.3, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 0.9, 0.9, 0.9 and 0.9 percent of the population. Christianity is the largest grouping in terms of religion, followed by Islam, Hinduism, Jewish, Sikhs and Buddhists (U.S. Census Bureau 52). Arts and Cultural Activities Through the London Heritage Council, the heritage sector is preserved, promoted and celebrated by a myriad of activities that provide information and possible funding for careers in community connections. Other institutions that promote arts and cultural activities include the Museum London, Orchestra London, and the St. Paul’s Cathedral. The leading organization that collects and presents culture and materials for visual arts is the Museum London. It conducts educational programs, public education, exhibitions and special events in a bid to promote both enjoyment and knowledge of regional history, culture and art. Orchestra London preserves and enhances regional culture through a wide variety of inspirationally distinctive orchestral and classical performances. Canadian creative and performing talents in music have been the greatest beneficiaries of both Orchestra London and Museum London (Scheltema & Westerhuijs 54). Designated as a legacy property in 2006 in London, the St. Paul’s Cathedral is the oldest church in London. The lives of the people who pioneered London as a city have been chronicled in the Cathedral’s rich embroidery. The regimental colors of Canada’s royal regiment are also displayed in the Cathedral, signifying their long and proud history. Originally set up in 1871, the Cathedral’s organ is among London’s oldest and historically significant instruments (Beaverstock 104). New York City Brief History New York City was discovered in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazano. The first settlement was by Henry Hudson in 1609 who stumbled upon the area in his search for a new course to Asia. It developed as a trade colony of the Dutch and was named New Amsterdam and later, in 1664, it became New York after the British takeover. During the Revolutionary War, it grew into a key city and was briefly the new United States’ capital after declaration of independence by colonies. When the Erie Canal opened in the 1800s creating a link to the Great Lakes, the city became one of Atlantic Ocean’s key ports and a trade center. That marked the exponential growth, especially in terms of population, to what New York City is today. Economic Profile United States’ largest regional economy is New York City, and it is the world’s second after Tokyo. Wall Street anchors the city’s economy, making it and London the top two global premiers. The largest stock exchanges, NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange are located in New York City. The city’s key economic activities are real estate, healthcare, insurance, journalism and finance. The industries promoting the fasted growth of employment are architecture, design, fashion, advertising and new media. Due to the flocking numbers of worker into the city, the technology economy has shot up in the past six years. At the start of the last quarter of 2013, the technology and information sector had 262,000 employees accounting for annual wages of $30 billion. In 2012 alone, 11,000 new employees got into the technology and information sector (U.S. Census Bureau 81). Size and Diversity of the Population New York City’s documented history that dates to the 16th just before the arrival of the French, Dutch Spanish and Europeans shows that its early inhabitants were Native Americans who spoke Iroquoian and Algonquian. Today, New York City has a population of 8.3 million people, with its density at 26, 304 persons per square mile, which is 40 percent of New York State’s population. It is also the key legal gateway for immigrants. With more than 800 different languages spoken in the city, it becomes the most diverse linguistically in the world, although is the most widespread. The percentage of the population born out of the city stands at 36, most of them from Mexico, Haiti, Guyana, China, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. The metropolitan area has the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel. 25 percent of the nation’s entire Indian American population resides and works in New York City, as well as the largest community of African Americans in the world. Arts and Cultural Activities New York City is also the world’s cultural capital with continuous activities in arts and culture at any time of the year. Ranging from art exhibitions, opera, theater, music and dance, the city offers something new to people from all over the world. The size and variety of people in the city reflect in its culture, and most of the nation’s cultural movements originated from there. For example, the African-American renaissance was established by New York’s Harlem Renaissance, and the United States’ modern dance was developed at the start of the 20th century in New York City. It became jazz’s venue of choice from the 1940s and consequently expressionism, to modern day beat generation, punk rock and hip hop. It remains a critical center visual arts, dance, film and music. This gives it the capacity to host and exhibit diverse cultures from any part of the world today. Tokyo Brief History Tokyo’s Westernization and modernization was kicked off by the overthrowing of Shogunate of Tokugawa and 1868 restitution of Imperial rule. Originally named Edo and then Tokyo, the city has for long been the administrative center, developing into the national and imperial capital. A civil war ended the status quo that had been self-imposed and lasting 250 years, which had isolated the nation. At the conclusion of the civil war, Tokyo spearheaded a speedy cultural, political and industrial transformation that saw the city become a global power within a few decades. With the arrival of expatriates, Tokyo’s population was at 583,000 in 1877, which doubled by 1887. In just above half a century, a day before the Pacific War, Tokyo was the third most populated city in the world with six million people. Presently, the city’s landscape has been altered by natural calamities, but the developmental spirit still tops the world. Economic Profile According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the GDP of The Tokyo Economic Bloc exceeds $1.4 billion, which is more than that of some entire countries. In conformity with its position in the global economy, Tokyo has shifted its focus to banking and financial services. However, there is still great emphasis on industries that manufacture electronic equipment, automobiles, printing and publishing equipment and a wide range of consumer goods. Although Tokyo has been plagued by up and down fluctuation of business conditions and unemployment rates, it has developed a resilience that has kept it bouncing back since 2008. This has enabled it to comprise a third of all the key industries in the region, with well over a million private ventures at the turn of the millennium. The city is extensively intersected by a network of canals through which its exports pass, as well as an elaborate subway system. Size and Diversity of the Population Tokyo’s population was slightly above 14 million at the beginning of 2012, 10 percent of the nation’s total, and the largest of the 47 prefectures. Its population density per square kilometer stood at 6,029 at the same period, making it the most densely populated. The migration of population between it in 2010 and other prefectures involved 744,000 people, out of which 348,000 moved in and 396,000 out of Tokyo. This left it with a net population growth of 48,000 people in one year only. The 2005 population census showed 10.9 million persons were aged over 15 years, out of which 5.9 million were permanently employed in the 6.2 million-strong labor force. 354,000 were completely jobless, with those holding some form of employment making up the balance (U.S. Census Bureau 82). Arts and Cultural Activities Tokyo also serves as Japan’s cultural center. Its origins are in the ethnic Jomon culture, which subsequently mixed with Korean, Chinese, Indian and Greek influences, finally become unique after an infusion of American and European cultures (Sassen 83). Flower arranging, also known as ikebana, and making paper objects or origami, are unique to Tokyo. Others include woodblock printing, performing arts, stylized drama, puppetry, satirical plays and animated storytelling, respectively known as ukiyo-e, kabuki, noh, bunraku, kyogen, and kamishibai. These are exhibited through large celebrations, observances, rituals and festivals, which traditionally start with shrine visits during New Year’s festivities. Viewing the cherry blossom in April is the most popular festivity. Even with all the infusions of Western cultures, Tokyo, and largely Japan, views themselves as separate from all other cultures and, therefore, are generally unwelcoming to most non-Japanese trends (Sassen 90). Works Cited Beaverstock, V. World City Networks from Below. Leicester: Loughborough University, 2010. Print. Sassen, Saskia. The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. New York: Princeton University Press, 2001. Print. Scheltema, Gajus and Westerhuijs, Heleen .Exploring Historic Dutch New York. New York: Dover Publications, 2011. Print. U.S. Census Bureau. Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics. Washington: Author, 2013. Read More