Brookings Institution: Global Identity for City Visibility

In an age when many nations are leaning toward isolationism, some cities are bucking the trend and becoming centers of global business, research, and higher education. Stockholm, San Diego and Barcelona in particular are three cities that exemplify successfully creating a “global identity,” notes Greg Clark for the Brookings Institution. By diversifying their economy, these cities have avoided the pitfall of expectations “that a metro is only good for what it is best known for.” Geography, indeed, is not destiny: 25 years ago, Barcelona’s neglected waterfront and beaches were a far cry from the vibrant tourism city it is today. Another emerging pattern is the development of two-city, complementary economies that span national borders like San Diego-Tijuana, Seattle-Vancouver, and Copenhagen-Malmo. “Competent alliances,” Clark concludes, are necessary for cities to be “at the forefront of globally integrated commerce.” —YaleGlobal