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Which cities are shaping the new world economic order?

Which cities are shaping the new world economic order?
New York just about retains its crown as a top financial centre but wealth management expertise is growing elsewhere (Javaistan/Pexels)

Kigali, Wellington and Sao Paulo are trending this year, but not because they have become the Instagram generation's destination of choice.

Conversely, Amsterdam, Boston and Miami are on a downward trajectory.

So what is the measurement by which some cities are rising while others are falling?

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These six are listed in the Global Financial Centres Index, published by consultancy ZYen. It evaluates the future competitiveness and rankings for 121 global financial centres.

In the 35th rendition of the report, which came out earlier this year, Miami and Boston - cities traditionally famous for property magnates and old school asset management respectively - experienced sharp drops in their overall rankings. 

Miami dropped 14 points towards the middle of the table, while Boston fell out of the top 20 completely, from 17 in the 34th index report down to 22nd. 

Conversely, cities not traditionally known as centres of banking or financial excellence, such as Reykjavik, Kigali, Hoi Chi Minh City and Sao Paulo shot up the tables and - while not in the top 20, they are climbing up the rankings. 

This is particularly with relation to their fintech developments and offerings, which this report was able to quantify in relation to 116 cities in the scope of the Index.

Global Banking Centres That Moved Up the Index:

Global Banking Centres That Moved Down the Index:

Sao Paulo: Up 21 placesMiami: Down 14 places
Wellington: Up 15 placesHelsinki: Down 12 places
Reykjavik: Up 14 placesGuernsey: Down 11 places
Kigali: Up 14 placesVienna: Down 11 places
Melbourne: Up 11 placesOslo: Down 11 places
Hoi Chi Minh City: Up 12 placesLos Angeles: Down 2 places
Toronto: Up 7 placesBeijing: Down 2 places
San Diego: Up 6 placesWashington DC: Down 4 places
Busan: Up 6 placesAmsterdam: Down 5 places
Source: Z/Yen 

​​​​​​The GFCI is compiled using 145 instrumental factors. These quantitative measures are provided by third parties including the World Bank, the Economist Intelligence Unit, the OECD and the United Nations.

While the usual suspects still top the table - New York, London and Singapore are the hallowed trinity of financial and banking excellence - it is clear there are challengers rising up.

Indeed, wealth managers have seen private clients and ultra high-net worth individuals start to shift their banking and wealth management preferences to non-traditional jurisdictions.

As these emerging centres gain traction domestically and internationally, they will attract more financial services companies, improve regulatory oversight and draw in even more investors.

Rising stars

The newcomers are gaining ground for several reasons.

Nigel Green, chief executive of international wealth advisory firm the de Vere Group, says: "Places like Dubai and Singapore are increasingly attracting high-net-worth individuals by offering compelling advantages.

"Dubai, with its lack of income and capital gains taxes, and Singapore, known for its advanced financial planning options, are drawing attention away from long-established hubs like the UK, Switzerland, and Monaco."

But the allure of these new financial centres lies not only in their favourable tax regimes but also in their stability and openness to global investment. 

For many HNWIs, relocating is driven by a range of factors, including political stability, quality of life, and the protection and growth of their wealth in a secure setting. 

Green adds: "As countries such as the UK and France may see their appeal wane, others are stepping up as the new focal points of global wealth, potentially reshaping the world economic order with new powerhouses emerging in previously overlooked regions."