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In the late 20th century there was a network of cities, deeply connected with each other, that ran much of the world, cities like London, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles. They enjoyed wealth and growth because they were deeply interconnected and wealth radiated out from them to surrounding regions. Other lesser cities often mattered chiefly because they lived at the intersection of the routes between great cities. Singapore, for example, stands athwart the great trade routes linking Asia and Europe.