Global Buzz - The GaWC Monthly Monitor

GaWC logo
  
 
  Gateways into GaWC

Global Buzz - August 2010

Global Buzz is an ‘immediate measure' of globalization: it indicates levels of global activity that are happening within selected cities over a given month. This short-term measure allows cities to be closely monitored over time. Results are produced for 62 cities in the form of % global buzz occurring in each city.

The first results were released for September 2009; here we release the results for August 2010 and the eleventh set of monthly change results. There are two tables below that provide the detailed levels of Global Buzz and the monthly change.

This is the final GaWC Monthly Monitor. We have carried out this experimental exercise for one year and we have decided to review our results to decide whether and how to take this measure of short-term change forward.

Main points:

  • August is often referred to as the ‘slow month' for news and this may be reflected in the latest results, which show large volatility in both buzz and rankings.
  • It is appropriate, perhaps, that we conclude with a new number 1: Bangkok. This shows a very large absolute % increase, and following last month's large rise, propels the city into a surprising first place. What has been going on in this city?
  • Along with Bangkok, Vancouver records a very large absolute increase in % buzz, rising a massive 26 ranks into 3rd place. What is happening in this city?
  • Singapore is the main victim of this volatility. It has the fifth largest rise in buzz but this rise is in normal proportions and therefore it falls down to 2nd rank.
  • London and New York remain largely as before, the former stays at 5th and the latter drops from 3rd to 4th.
  • Two other cities enter the top ten: Los Angeles as the third highest mover returns in 8th place; Dubai as fourth highest mover rises 10 places to 10th.
  • The big losers are the three Chinese cities Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong. The latter city remains in the top ten (falling from 2nd to 6th) but the other two cities drop precipitously to 20th and 27th respectively.
  • Finally, the FIFA World Cup is truly over for Johannesburg, now it has the second largest fall in rank (18 places) to a lowly 54th.

 


GLOBAL BUZZ - TABLES August 2010xla file

 

Go to: [Global Buzz - The GaWC Monthly Monitor]