| Los Angeles, California, is one of several | | | | |
| U.S. cities, along with New York City and | | | | Here's a look at several other |
| Chicago, to enjoy the designation of "alpha | | | | characteristics on the Loughborough |
| world city", a concept developed at England's | | | | University list that help qualify the City of |
| Loughborough University to identify strategic | | | | Los Angeles as an alpha world city: |
| geographical locations that play an important | | | | |
| role in the ongoing process of globalization. | | | | - An alpha world city has a substantial |
| Essentially a 12-point scale, the | | | | population. According to 2006 estimates by |
| Loughborough system divides the world's | | | | the U.S. Census Bureau, L.A.'s population is |
| leading cities into three categories: alpha, | | | | 3.8 million, making it the largest city in |
| beta or gamma, depending on whether and to | | | | California and the second largest city in the |
| what extent the city in question satisfies a | | | | United States after New York City. |
| dozen general criteria. | | | | |
| | | | - An alpha world city is a transportation |
| With twelve points each, New York City, | | | | nexus, usually with an important |
| London and Tokyo are the undisputed point | | | | international airport used as a hub by a |
| leaders in what is really a two-tier | | | | number of international air carriers. Los |
| classification system within the overall | | | | Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the |
| "alpha world city" category. Within the alpha | | | | world's fifth busiest commercial airport. LAX |
| group, Los Angeles is a second tier designate | | | | serves nearly ninety domestic and seventy |
| that meets ten of the twelve characteristics | | | | international destinations and is considered |
| ascribed by Loughborough University to the | | | | a gateway to destinations throughout Asia and |
| world's leading cities. | | | | Oceania. |
| | | | |
| Name recognition is at the top of the list of | | | | - An alpha world city is also a cultural |
| characteristics every alpha world city must | | | | nexus. As the focal point of America's |
| have. In the world of alpha cities, the mere | | | | television and movie industry, film and TV |
| mention of a city's name transcends any and | | | | studios in Los Angeles produce world-class |
| all geographical boundaries. Consider the | | | | entertainment seen both domestically and |
| fact that many cities around the world share | | | | abroad. |
| the same name. However, there is universal | | | | |
| agreement that a reference to Paris, London | | | | These are only three of a dozen |
| or New York, for example, automatically | | | | characteristics that define an alpha world |
| refers to one and only one specific city in | | | | city according to the Loughborough University |
| France, the United Kingdom or the United | | | | scale. Los Angeles scores ten of twelve |
| States, respectively. Much the same is true | | | | points on this scale, making it one of the |
| of Los Angeles, also universally recognized | | | | planet's most influential and important |
| simply as "L.A.", the bustling economic and | | | | cities. |
| cultural center on the U.S. West Coast. | | | | |