There are three levels in relation to urban areas and dominance and dependence. Refer back to the GaWC ranking of World Cities to investigate further the more and less dominant world cities.
Global Centres: Theatres of world accumulation, technological dominance, financial dominance in production and distribution, cultural influence, strategic decision making
National Metropolis: Tactical decision making, theatre of national accumulation, national dominance in the production and distribution of goods and services, production and distribution, cultural influence, political control
Regional Centres: Daily decisions, local accumulation, limited modern production, centres of distribution, recipients/transmitters of cultural patterns, local political influences.
Dominance and Dependence
- An Asian subsystem is centred on a Tokyo-Singapore-Hong Kong axis. Tokyo is the hub of both external and internal connection. Singapore has gained strength as a focus for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta
- A North American subsystem is based on the three core cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, linked to Toronto in the north and Mexico City in the South. This brings Canada, Central America and the small Caribbean countries into the North American sphere of influence
- A West European subsystem focuses on London, Paris, the Randstad conurbation in Holland, the cities of the Rhine-Rhur region in western Germany and Zurich in Switzerland
- The Southern Hemisphere is linked to the system through Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and Sydney
Connectography 