The phrase alpha world cities only returns 2600 hits on google but the phrase world cities gives over a million The Alpha part is merely to distinguish it as the highest tier of world cities no offense you can t put most of the other world cities such as Beta cities Moscow and San Francisco and Gamma cities Jakarta and Minneapolis on the same tier as NYC There s a reason why a whopping 47 of americans think of NYC as The City FYI Chicago is second with a measly 4 5 DragonAtma