Cidades menores, do porte de Niterói, podem ter importância global

Mighty Mouse: Can Small Cities be Global Cities?

It seems like a predictable law of physics; ­the cities with the greatest gravity in the urban universe are some of the largest. Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, and so on–these global cities are the vital nodes of the global economy, epicenters of cultural influence, and tireless contributors of world-changing ideas. A behemoth mass of life, however, is not the sole predictor of global influence. A handful of outliers–San Francisco, Zurich, Miami, and Copenhagen–prove that with smart urban planning, strategic policy, and the prerequisite embrace of internationalism, small cities can also be global.

First, some frame of reference for these chosen case study cities. Consider the global influence of San Francisco, Zurich, Miami, and Copenhagen in relation to other cities with populations under one million in Western Europe and the Unites States:

Though their character, culture, and geographic position vary widely, these cities stand out as centers of considerable global influence despite their relatively small populations. They are not, however, outliers by accident.

LIVABILITY

One common thread among them is a high quality of life. Those who follow popular quality of life surveys (The Economist, Mercer, Monocle, etc.) will be familiar with Zurich and Copenhagen’s frequent jostle for the top positions as the world’s most livable cities. San Francisco is similarly well-regarded for livability among North American cities. Small global cities are walkable, with generous public space and high quality public transport. In some respects, these cities’ small size puts them at an advantage–they have been built to a human scale rather than buried beneath skyscrapers like Manhattan or central Tokyo. They are attractive places to live for native residents and internationals alike.

Though they may not all possess tall skylines, these smaller global cities are indeed compact. The scatterplot below compares the population densities of similarly sized cities with their populations:

Population x density

  Higher densities may well contribute to these four cities’ ability to hold such an important place in global economics and cultural exchange; more people in less space spurs more social interaction, more potential for new ideas, and a higher productivity of the local workforce. Furthermore, density correlates with a greater efficiency of public services, providing more funds to invest in higher quality of life and economic development. Small or large, global cities must be compact cities.

STRATEGIC POLICY

Each of these case study cities has also capitalized on notable successes in a specific field of specialization. Zurich has assumed the role of Europe’s financial center (where finance accounts for a higher percentage of business than in New York). Copenhagen is a thought leader in design and a global exporter of green technology. San Francisco has been a cultural pioneer and become the world’s foremost city for tech startups. Miami has earned the title of “the Capital of Latin America” by providing stability and a multi-lingual environment to Latin American entrepreneurs. It is no coincidence that all four of these small global cities reside within nations with business-friendly regulatory environments. The economic opportunities of their urban populations expand as a result. When countries invest in innovation and nurture entrepreneurialism, cities–large and small–will serve as the incubators of their success.

INTERNATIONALISM

At the risk of presenting a truism–it’s a bit more complex than it seems–global cities must also embrace internationalism. Many cities seek international corporate investment, but they often forget to consider how people play into this equation. As shown below, small global cities boast an above-average presence of foreign-born residents:

Population x % foreign born

This is where Miami’s strength lies–a majority immigrant population–and the other case study cities break away from the pack. Their acceptance of a diverse population opens the doors to the synthesis of new ideas and a vibrant cultural experience. Though Switzerland, Denmark, and the United States have all tightened immigration policies in the past decade, data suggests this will be to the detriment of these global cities. Specialized firms will face a more difficult time recruiting the best talent in the world, and recent studies even suggest that fewer businesses will be opened in the first place.

The world’s larger global cities are well aware of the benefit immigrants provide their development; cities like Chicago, Toronto, and Vienna have begun intensive initiatives to attract immigrants despite national policies. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (From a city of 8.3 million with over 3 million immigrants) has called the United States current immigration policies “economic suicide”.

All this is not meant to overlook the fundamental question: why become a global city? Clearly not all small cities can become global cities, but the benefit of stepping up as an international hub means an enriched array of opportunities for people–more employment options, a more diverse array of neighbors, and the heightened potential for new ideas to emerge. Furthermore, the correlative metrics outlined here provide a higher quality of life for residents regardless of success as a global city. The means to an end are a virtue in and of themselves. Support for localized economics and consumption will continue to be the sustainable route for cities, but access to a global network of knowledge and culture is available to smaller cities taking meaningful steps towards our ever more interconnected future.

Outliers

*Miami & San Francisco images by Robin Hill (West 8) and Kelly Allen (File Magazine), respectively. Copenhagen & Zurich images by Kasey Klimes.


Fonte: Gehl Architects - Making Cities for People