1、The Cities Shaping The FutureIntroducing our index ranking the business attractiveness of 1,500 cities across Asia,Africa,Latin America,and the Middle EastThe Cities Shaping The FutureIntroducing our index ranking the business attractiveness of 1,500 cities across Asia,Africa,Latin America,and the M

2、iddle EastExecutive SummaryFrom ancient metropolises like Babylon and Rome to the rise of London in the 19th century and New York in the 20th,cities have been crucial in the development of commerce,culture,and government.That role is playing out on a larger stage than ever today.For the first time,m

3、ore than half of the worlds population lives in cities,and the pace of urbanization is fastest in the emerging and developing economies of Asia,the Middle East,Africa,and Latin America.Cities in these regions also are benefitting from fundamental transformations in the global economy as geopolitical

4、 tensions,protectionist pressures,and a wave of industrial policies prompt major corporations to reconsider where they produce and market their goods and services,grow their customer bases,and find new talent.These forces are creating new urban centers of growth and innovation that are fast taking l

5、eadership from the North American and European metropolises that led the way for most of the 20th century.Over the next decade,these four regions will be home to 28 of the worlds 30 largest megalopolises,with Shanghai and Cairo,Delhi and Dhaka,Mexico City and Mumbai,Kinshasa and Tokyo having populat

6、ions of between 25million and 40 million people each.The opportunity extends well beyond these urban giants.The four regions are home to more than 1,500 cities with populations greater than 250,000.Thats more than three times the number of comparably sized cities in Europe and the United States comb