Tokyo maintains third place in global city ranking as work flexibility improves

Nov 25, 2021 | News On Japan

Nov 25, 2021 (Japan Times) - Tokyo ranked third after London and New York in an annual Global Power City Index report released Wednesday, retaining the position for the sixth consecutive year thanks to greater work flexibility amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The top five cities remained unchanged in the latest report, compiled by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies, but the pandemic had a significant impact on some indicators, such as tourism and working styles.

London finished in the top spot for the tenth straight year, while Paris and Singapore rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Osaka, meanwhile, slid to 36th from 33rd last year due to a steep drop in the number of air passengers arriving in the city, particularly at Kansai Airport. Fukuoka inched up to 42nd from 43rd place.

The Global Power City Index examines the overall strength of 48 major global cities to attract people, money and businesses by examining six major areas — economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and accessibility — using 70 indicators.

Despite coming first, London’s score for accessibility, which was the highest last year, fell to third because of travel restrictions. The economic fallout of the pandemic also dragged down its economy score.

Tokyo, which improved its overall scores, boosted its position to second from 41st last year for working style flexibility, as the pandemic prompted a raft of companies to introduce telework and make working hours more flexible.

Due to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the capital also increased its score for the number of cultural events it hosted. ...continue reading

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