Cities have become the principal engines of economic growth, innovation, and investment. Yet the factors that determine urban competitiveness are evolving. While infrastructure, connectivity and scale remain essential, they are no longer sufficient.
Increasingly, the most competitive cities are those that most effectively translate investment, governance, and ambition into lasting economic, social, and environmental outcomes. At KPMG, we are committed to helping shape the future of cities and places. Through our work with governments, city authorities, infrastructure owners, businesses and investors, and our collaboration with organizations including the World Economic Forum and UN Habitat, we see first-hand that competitiveness is shaped less by individual projects and more by how effectively entire urban systems perform. The challenge is no longer simply what cities build, but how effectively they convert capabilities into productivity, innovation, resilience, and quality of life.
This publication introduces KPMG‘s City Competitiveness Framework, providing a practical lens through which leaders can better understand the capabilities that underpin long term competitiveness. The framework moves beyond individual rankings to explore how governance, the economy and business environment, and the living environment interact to strengthen long term competitiveness.
