Change in the World System of Metropolises: The Role of Business Intermediaries

Business intermediaries engaged in the international exchange of capital and commodities (financiers, commodity brokers, wholesalers, corporate head offices) influence the formation of and change in the system of world metropolises through their reactions to competitioh: (1) altering transaction costs, (2) differentiation or dedifferentiation to control markets, and (3) appeal to force. Propositions about intermediary behavior are supported with evidence from the case study literature. These propositions form the basis for a synthesis of the changes in the system of world metropolises.