Financial centers - Creation & Existence

When we look at most cities in the world which are the financial capitals of their respective countries, it is generally observed that these cities may or may not be the political capital but all of them have a common trait. 

New York, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Sao Paulo, Auckland, Beunos Aires, Paris etc. are few of them in the list. 

Some of the above cities are central to business around the world too. All of these cities have one common trait. Each one of them is a "Port." Incidentally, many of these cities have never ever been politically important, but all of them are central to business of their respective countries. Besides, some of them have been important since their country came into existence and still retain the tag of " Financial capital" of their respective countries.

Delving deeper, it is not very surprising that each of these have this common trait. Port has been one of the most important center which connects a country to the external world in terms of goods. Since ages, business has thrived on the exchange of goods (Trade) and the most important facilitator for this is a good port. Indirectly, these cities have been the nodes that connect their country to the external world and also are the first recipients of external goods and or services. Business of the entire city in old ages would revolve around this.

With passage of time, despite a lot of transportation happening through planes, ships have still retained the prime spot for transfer of goods between countries and that too by a very huge margin. Most goods from oil to electronics etc. get transferred between countries through ports only. Hence despite the advent of more modes of transportation, business has still thrived on these cities having ports and are thus still the most important financial centers of the world. 

Trade has not only helped create a lot of opportunities for business but has also been responsible for creation of these mammoth cities of the world which act as the business nodes for their respective countries..!!