Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST
Hartford from the south on the Connecticut River.

A study by the Brooking Institution compared per-capita gross domestic product and employment data from 2010 to 2011 in 200 of the world's largest metropolitan areas.

These cities accounted for 48 per cent of global output despite having only 14 per cent of the world's population and employment.

Here's a list of the world's top 10 productive cities according to CNBC...

1. Hartford, Connecticut
Per capita GDP: $75,086

Capital city of Connecticut, Hartford is the historic international centre of the insurance industry. Hartford is also a hub of medical care, research, and education.

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

2. Oslo, Canada

Per capita GDP: $74,057

Oslo is considered a global city and ranked 'Beta World City' by the Globalisation and World Cities Study Group.

Oslo is the economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping.

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

3. San Jose, California

Per capita GDP: $68,141

San Jose is the third-largest city in California and the tenth-largest in the US. With a large concentration of high-technology engineering, computer, and microprocessor companies around San Jose, this area is known as Silicon Valley. 

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST
ADIA Tower at night.

4. Abu Dhabi, UAE

Per-capita GDP: $63,859

Abu Dhabi is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi is home to important financial institutions and houses the corporate headquarters of many multinational corporations.

Click NEXT to read more...


World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

5. Bridgeport, Connecticut

Per-capita GDP: $63,555

Bridgeport is the most populous city in the US state of Connecticut.

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

6. Zurich, Switzerland

Per-capita GDP: $63,236

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. Monocle's 2012 'Quality of Life Survey' ranked Zurich first on a list of the top 25 cities in the world "to make a base within.

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

7. Washington, United States

Per-capita GDP: $62,943  

The capital of United States, Washington has a growing, diversified economy with an increasing percentage of professional and business service jobs.

Click NEXT to read more...


World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

8. Stockholm, Sweden

Per-capita GDP: $61,458

Stockholm is Sweden's financial centre. The vast majority of Stockholm residents work in the service industry, which accounts for roughly 85 per cent of jobs in Stockholm.

Click NEXT to read more...

World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

9. Boston, United States

Per-capita GDP: $60,074

The city's economic base includes research, manufacturing, finance, and biotechnology.  The Greater Boston metropolitan area has the sixth-largest economy in the country and 12th-largest in the world.

Click NEXT to read more...


World's 10 most productive cities

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 08:30 IST

10. San Francisco, United States

Per-capita GDP: $58,783

San Francisco is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, ranking 35th out of the 100 most visited cities worldwide.

It is a primary banking and finance centre, and has more than 30 international financial institutions.