The Anholt-GMI City Brands Index is an international survey of people in many countries, measuring their perceptions of the merits of major cities around the world against a number of criteria. The idea is to assess how these cities are perceived as places for tourism, investment, immigration etc. The operative word is "perceived" - you don't have to have actually visited them to vote, and many otherwise worthy cities would suffer from lack of international media exposure.

In the latest survey Sydney has edged out London for the No 1 spot. Melbourne has also entered the Top 10 for the first time, in 8th spot.

The "top 20" are:
1. Sydney
2. London
3. Paris
4. Rome
5. New York
6. Washington
7. San Francisco
8. Melbourne
9. Barcelona
10. Geneva
11. Amsterdam
12. Madrid
13. Montreal
14. Toronto
15. Los Angeles
16. Vancouver
17. Berlin
18. Brussels
19. Milan
20. Copenhagen

So, 11 in Europe, 4 in the USA, 3 in Canada and 2 in Australia.

How do they define a city that is eligible? Number of people I wonder?

Because there is only the big boys in that list. In some countries (Switzerland, New Zealand) the main cities are very small compared to the US or London.

willees, the executive summary talks about methodology - you can download it from
www.citybrandsindex.com/?CID=NLC-GMI

I thnk the answer is that the large and prosperous cities of western Europe, North America and Australia have high profiles. The report mentions that the beautiful city of Sarajevo doesn't score as well as it should because its merits aren't well known, and maybe also because it's associated with the fighting in the former Yugoslavia.

The survey is about "brand power", and the way a country's or city's image influences its success. Sydney is identified with attractive images of its harbour and beaches. Most Sydneysiders live in the much less attractive western suburbs, but few foreigners know anything about them. Perception is everything.

Neil did you also see that it is the number1 most expensive city in which to live...ahead of London and New York? I wouldn't think so ?

Sydney is stunning , not cheap, but no more expemsive than Tornto.
London and New York are way up there.

Peter, there was a recent survey (Demographia) that found Sydney 7th worst in the world for housing affordability basis - not sure about overall costs but surely they couldn't be worse than London? And I'm struggling to understand why Hobart ranks up there.

Demographia ratings for toughest 20:

City - Country - Number of years income it takes to buy an average-priced house

1. Los Angeles – Orange Co., US, 11.4
2. San Diego, US, 10.5
3. Honolulu, US, 10.3
4. San Francisco, US, 10.1
5. Ventura County, US, 9.4
6. Stockton, US, 8.6
7. Sydney, Aus, 8.5
8. San Jose, US, 8.4
9. London, UK, 8.3
10. Bournemouth-Dorset, UK, 8.2
11. Perth, Aus, 8
12. Riverside-San Bernardino, US, 7.9
13. Vancouver, Canada, 7.7
14. Miami-West Palm Beach, US, 7.6
15. Modesto, US, 7.6
16. Cardiff, US, 7.5
17. Bristol, UK, 7.3
18. Fresno, US, 7.2
18. New York, US, 7.2
20. Hobart, Aus, 7

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/
0,22049,21098156-5001021,00.html

"Perceived" is surely the operative word.

Ie - people who have never been there soaking up the advertising/marketing blurb.

I didn't realise the NSW lot did so well. Expect some spin here if anyone in the corridors of power picks up on this meaningless survey.

Not knocking Sydney - it would be in my top 5 places to live any day.

hello im looking for places to stay when i travel to sydney i would love to possibly work an live there are there a lot of health care jobs what kind of wages do they pay? thanks

Interesting, I have been to all of those cities.

sunababe, you need to study Australian immigration regulations - don't assume that you can work legally in Australia in any capacity. Go to www.immi.gov.au

And this comment is meant to be helpful, not negative - if you're looking to apply for any position above the most unskilled, be sure to pay attention to your written English. Cellphone texting English doesn't look too good even here - when enquiring about jobs it would spell death for your prospects! Many older people in particular find it intensely annoying.

Well at least Cardiff got mentioned in one of them.



Muck

fuzzylogic, I don't think the survey is "meaningless" at all. It doesn't set out to be an accurate depiction of a city's merits but to measure how people around the world think of it, which affects its tourism, business investment etc. Providing the survey methodology is reasonable, and there's no reason to think it isn't, I would think that anyone involved in promoting the cities concerned would find the results quite meaningful.

Muck: What're you waiting for? Send those kids out to work ... just 1 more year's wages & to swap Cardiff for Sydney

It takes more years of income to buy a house in Stockton than in London? What were those researchers smoking? Didn't read the link, so have no idea how they reached that conclusion, but at first glance it seems totally totally ridiculous.

Bokhara, Hi,
That's the master plan.
Sadly Mrs Muck doesn't want to leave good old over taxed, labour ruined GB. So I will have to come on my own..

You will easily recognise me, I will be the guy sleeping and busking outside the opera house.



Muck