News | 21 May 2024

Oxford Economics Launches Global Cities Index

Oxford Economics is proud to launch the Global Cities Index, a ground-breaking initiative that offers comprehensive evaluation of the world’s 1,000 largest urban economies. This comprehensive index, developed by a team of leading economists, provides unparalleled insights into the multifaceted nature of urban environments worldwide.

The Global Cities Index assesses cities based on 27 indicators across five categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. By leveraging Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Service and other publicly available datasets, the index allows direct comparison of cities and provides a nuanced understanding of each city’s strengths and areas for improvement.

Mark Britton, Director of City Services at Oxford Economics, says, “Cities are the epicentres of human civilisation, where innovation, diversity and progress converge. However, the complexity of urban dynamics often obscures our understanding of what makes a city truly successful. Our Global Cities Index provides a consistent framework for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the largest 1,000 cities across the world, and when coupled with our forecasts, it enables organisations and policymakers to make more informed strategic decisions.”

While the Index scores cities based on how they are performing now, there is potential for significant movement within the rankings in the coming years, as the 1,000 Global Cities navigate the concurrence of several global trends. “These include economic turbulence, political instability, high debt levels, trends in globalisation, pressures on healthcare and housing and the effects of climate change.”

Download the full Global Cities Index report