Cities of the future: global competition, local leadership

January 2006

With 60% of the world population predicted to live in cities by 2030, PricewaterhouseCoopers sets out to identify the principle challenges and trends influencing city leaders all over the world in formulating sustainable strategies for the future. Despite unique identities, geographic spread and differing economies, the report indicates that cities are being tested by the same mega trends.

In the course of this year-long research, we interviewed senior figures from over 40 cities around the world who were asked about the challenges their cities face - international and national, external and internal - how they are responding to these challenges and what their plans are for the future.

From these interviews emerged some key trends, which cut across the experience of all cities: globalisation, individualism, merging, acceleration, hi-tech, hi-touch, demographics, urbanisation and migration.