In this chapter, we will first describe the methodology and structure of the GPCI
and its evaluation of the cities’ environments. Drawing on the results of GPCI-2013,
we will then analyze the patterns that are observed in the GPCI cities in terms of
Environment indicators. Lastly, we will discuss the relation between comprehensive
power and urban sustainability, with a particular focus on the GPCI cities’ performance in Environment and Economy functions.
1
11.2 GPCI and Its Environment Indicators
11.2.1 GPCI and Its Methodology
The GPCI has evaluated and ranked the major cities of the world based on an
assumption that the sum of the city’s functional performance shapes its standing in
worldwide intercity competition. Certainly, the GPCI is not the only attempt to
create an urban index: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)’ Cities of Opportunity (since
2007; see PwC 2014); A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’
Global Cities Index (since 2008; see A.T. Kearney 2012); Knight Frank’s Global
Cities Survey, The Wealth Report (since 2008; see Knight Frank 2014); Economist
Intelligence Unit’s Hot Spots: Global City Competitiveness Index (since 2007; see
EIU 2014*); and The Z/Yen Group’s Global Financial Centres Index (since 2007;
see The Z/Yen Group 2014) are examples of the city indexes that measure the
performance of major cities of the world (Yamazaki 2010). In fact, according to
Greg Clark and Tim Moonen’s report, there were more than 150 indices evaluating
cities in the world in 2013 (Clark and Moonen 2013). While many of these indices
focus on specific urban functions such as economy, finance, or livability, the GPCI
aims to evaluate the city’s comprehensive performance.
The GPCI selects 40 major cities of the world as its object of measurement.
2 The
following three criteria are used to select the target cities: first, the city is found in the
top ten of existing and influential city rankings such as the Global Financial Centres
Index, Global Cities Index, and Cities of Opportunity; next, the city is a major city in
countries that are top ten in terms of competition according to influential international competitiveness rankings (created by the World Economic Forum and International Institute for Management Development); finally, the city is deemed
appropriate for inclusion by the GPCI committee or its working group members.
According to these criteria, 17 cities from Europe and Africa, 13 from Asia and
Oceania, and 10 from the Americas are selected.
3
1 The authors thank the Institute for Urban Studies, The Mori Memorial Foundation (IUS-MMF) for
permission to use the GPCI data.
2 The number of the GPCI’s target cities increased from 35 to 40 in GPCI-2012.
3 Several other cities match one or more of these criteria but they are not included in the GPCI
because of the lack of available indicator data.
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H. Ichikawa and K. Sasaki
and its evaluation of the cities’ environments. Drawing on the results of GPCI-2013,
we will then analyze the patterns that are observed in the GPCI cities in terms of
Environment indicators. Lastly, we will discuss the relation between comprehensive
power and urban sustainability, with a particular focus on the GPCI cities’ performance in Environment and Economy functions.
1
11.2 GPCI and Its Environment Indicators
11.2.1 GPCI and Its Methodology
The GPCI has evaluated and ranked the major cities of the world based on an
assumption that the sum of the city’s functional performance shapes its standing in
worldwide intercity competition. Certainly, the GPCI is not the only attempt to
create an urban index: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)’ Cities of Opportunity (since
2007; see PwC 2014); A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’
Global Cities Index (since 2008; see A.T. Kearney 2012); Knight Frank’s Global
Cities Survey, The Wealth Report (since 2008; see Knight Frank 2014); Economist
Intelligence Unit’s Hot Spots: Global City Competitiveness Index (since 2007; see
EIU 2014*); and The Z/Yen Group’s Global Financial Centres Index (since 2007;
see The Z/Yen Group 2014) are examples of the city indexes that measure the
performance of major cities of the world (Yamazaki 2010). In fact, according to
Greg Clark and Tim Moonen’s report, there were more than 150 indices evaluating
cities in the world in 2013 (Clark and Moonen 2013). While many of these indices
focus on specific urban functions such as economy, finance, or livability, the GPCI
aims to evaluate the city’s comprehensive performance.
The GPCI selects 40 major cities of the world as its object of measurement.
2 The
following three criteria are used to select the target cities: first, the city is found in the
top ten of existing and influential city rankings such as the Global Financial Centres
Index, Global Cities Index, and Cities of Opportunity; next, the city is a major city in
countries that are top ten in terms of competition according to influential international competitiveness rankings (created by the World Economic Forum and International Institute for Management Development); finally, the city is deemed
appropriate for inclusion by the GPCI committee or its working group members.
According to these criteria, 17 cities from Europe and Africa, 13 from Asia and
Oceania, and 10 from the Americas are selected.
3
1 The authors thank the Institute for Urban Studies, The Mori Memorial Foundation (IUS-MMF) for
permission to use the GPCI data.
2 The number of the GPCI’s target cities increased from 35 to 40 in GPCI-2012.
3 Several other cities match one or more of these criteria but they are not included in the GPCI
because of the lack of available indicator data.
206
H. Ichikawa and K. Sasaki