Toronto has something of a complex when it comes to being considered a world class city, this despite numerous high rankings in terms of livability and economic stature. A new study out from Forbes might help to quell this self consciousness or make it worse, depending on how ambitious one's conception of the city's global position is. According to Forbes, Toronto is the 10th "most necessary" city in the world, a spot it shares with San Francisco and Los Angeles.

London, New York, and Paris take the top three spots in this survey, which puts much emphasis on a city's stature as financial hub. "Toronto, as the economic capital of Canada, has becomes a focus for international investment into that stable and resource rich country," the introduction to the ranking reads. "It is also among the most diverse cities on the planet -- 46 % of its population is foreign born."

While the 10th place ranking doesn't necessarily seem so high, when you consider that a city like Chicago comes in at 20th, it should serve as a reminder that Toronto's stature in the world is secure. Let's see if Rob Ford takes credit for this.

Photo by Marc in the blogTO Flickr pool.