Not all major cities are created equal, with some places around the world holding more influence over global business, culture, and politics than others. But what are the world's most influential cities?
That's a question that management consultancy firm A.T. Kearney tries to answer with its annual Global Cities Report. The report looks at which global cities "are improving in their competitiveness and what factors are driving that success."
It examines dozens of variables, which are then subdivided into five categories: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement. Scores in these categories are then added together to create a holistic ranking.
New York and London top the list, with both cities miles ahead of their nearest rivals. The top 21 are spread around the world, although Europe dominates the list.
Check out the world's most influential cities below:
21. Vienna, Austria
Austria may be a relatively small nation globally speaking, but it's capital city punches well above its weight. Vienna is home to the headquarters of OPEC, the cartel of oil producing nations that controls global oil supplies.
20. San Francisco, USA
Technology lives in San Francisco, which is just a stones throw from the headquarters of Facebook, Google, and many other tech giants.
19. Shanghai, China
Home to the main financial centre on the Chinese mainland, Shanghai is also the world's busiest container port, making it a global hub for all kinds of trade.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider