He grew up in Joplin, Missouri and graduated from Truman State University.

[3] He is also the Associate Director of the Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard [1].

He is perhaps best known for his work documenting the role that different cities play in connecting international networks of investment and trade, giving rise to a world city system.

[5] This approach has helped to refine and expand work on the world system.

His research shows persistent inequality in different countries' ties to international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) – levels that rival world income inequality.