Global Economy Urbanization and Urban Economies Globalization

Abstract

World economy globalization fundamentally changes the role of urban business systems. Now they are the main actors of global production and trade. The dominant share of international business activity is now concentrating within a framework of a global urban net. This trend transforms mechanisms and patterns of market economy of institutes; and stimulates an appearance of new economic, social, and political problems. This chapter includes statistical and comparative analyze of modern cities, their economic performance and position in global economic affairs and also the original authors' methodology for urban business structure evaluation. It allows the setting some theoretical findings about internal and external sources of urban business systems competitiveness and effectiveness in a globalizing economy and the formation of original approach to modern cities global hierarchy evaluation.