New York is still the greatest city in the world

Being an influential and competitive city is increasingly important due to globalization and two of America’s biggest cities rank highly.

The annual ranking of Global Cities by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney reveals that New York and San Francisco have remained among the best in the world.

New York leads the list, which helps multinationals assess the best cities for expansion, investment and recruiting new talent.

This top ranking for New York was held for a second year by improvement in business activity and a leading position for human capital.

"As companies experience strategic shifts in their businesses, Index insights can be crucial inputs into decisions on where and how to operate to win the war for growth and sustain performance with the right talent mix," said Nicole Dessibourg-Freer, co-author of the report and a consultant with A.T. Kearney.

San Francisco leads 2018 outlook

While New York retains its top spot in the overall rankings, San Francisco holds its position in the report’s Global Outlook.

This is based on emerging cities that can rival established leaders based on 13 metrics across four dimensions: personal well-being, economics, innovation, and governance.

It’s the fourth consecutive year that San Francisco has led the pack, with growth in Silicon Valley driving excellence in innovation.

"It's ecosystems with the strongest commitment to innovation and development that are emerging as the world's best cities," said Erik Peterson, partner with A.T. Kearney and managing director of the firm's Global Business Policy Council. "Now more than ever, it's vital for cities to attract investment that drives growth. The cities highlighted in our report have discovered the right mix of ingredients to do so."