World's Most Livable Cities

[Waterlooer]

World's Most Livable Cities

Discussions about the world's most livable cities (http://www.economist.com/node/13809770) and how Waterloo region can follow in their footsteps


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[Waterlooer]

Here is a list of the worlds most livable cities from: The Economist Intelligence Unit (http://www.economist.com/node/13809770) (from 2008)


http://media.economist.com/sites/default/files/images/Rankings/Livability04.jpg

[Waterlooer]

Link: http://store.eiu.com/product/464271831.html


The Economist Intelligence Unit's liveability rating, part of the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individual's lifestyle in 140 cities worldwide. Each city is assigned a score for over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories:

-stability
-health care
-culture and environment
-education
-infrastructure

Each factor in each city is rated as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable. For qualitative indicators, a rating is awarded based on the judgment of in–house analysts and in–city contributors. For quantitative indicators, a rating is calculated based on the relative performance of a number of external data points. The categories are compiled and weighted to provide an overall rating of 1–100, where 1 is considered intolerable and 100 is considered ideal. The report considers that any city with a rating of 80 or more will have few, if any, challenges to living standards This report will provide you with methodology, a short overview the along with the ranking position and overall liveability score for all cities in the latest survey. If you wish to purchase more detailed city-specific information, please contact your nearest Economist Intelligence Unit office.


Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary named among world's most livable cities
Feb 22, 2011 | The Vancouver Sun | Link (http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Vancouver+Toronto+Calgary+named+among+world+most+l ivable+cities/4320531/story.html)


For the fifth-straight year, Vancouver has been named the best city in the world to live.

And two other Canadian centres — Toronto and Calgary — cracked the top 10 in the annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which was released Monday.

Toronto and Calgary came in at fourth and fifth, respectively, in the listing, which was based on 30 factors across five broad categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Each factor was rated as accepted, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable in a system that “allows for direct comparison between locations,” according to the report.

Scores are compiled out of 100 overall. Vancouver received a score of 98.

“Vancouver remains at the top of the ranking, a position that can only have been cemented by the successful hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which provided a boost to the infrastructure and culture and environment categories,” the survey’s authors wrote in their summary.

“Only petty crime presents any difficulties for Vancouver, although this would be a shortfall of any such location. Violence is reportedly on an upward trend in the city, but the figures need to be put in context,” the report said.

The findings suggest Vancouver’s 2009 murder rate was at 2.6 per 100,000, which is higher than Canada’s average of 1.8 per 100,000. But the city’s murder rate is only half of the U.S. average of 5.4 murders, the study said.

Patrick Condon, a University of British Columbia professor who specializes in architecture and sustainable building, said he wasn’t surprised that three Canadian cities made the list.

“As a transplanted American, one of the things I think is a quite interesting factor is health care . . . access to health care in the North American context is a big factor,” he said.

He said housing affordability has concerned many young residents in Vancouver — a factor that “obviously” wasn’t considered in the survey, Condon said.

“It’s also interesting that (Vancouver) ranked that well without actually having criteria about the intangibles, such as the beauty of the city. In my thinking about this city, that’s why it’s at the top of my list,” he said.

The authors said mid-sized cities in developed countries with low population densities scored well because they had cultural and infrastructure benefits but also had fewer issues with crime and congestion.

Cities such as Vienna in Austria, Helsinki, Finland, and Sydney, Australia, were also on the list.

Harare, Zimbabwe, is the worst place to live, according to the report’s findings. African and Asian nations made up the bottom of the survey’s rankings.

“Conflict is responsible for many of the poorest performing scores,” the report said, pointing to issues such as violence, crime, civil insurgency and war.

List of top 10 cities:

1. Vancouver

2. Melbourne, Australia

3. Vienna, Austria

4. Toronto

5. Calgary

6. Finland, Helsinki

7. Sydney, Australia

8. Perth, Australia

9. Adelaide, Australia

10. Auckland, New Zealand

[IEFBR14]

Do you have a link to a free version of the full report (priced at $250 on the Economist website)? :RpS_drool:

As for the intelligence of the Economist's Intelligence Unit, how can Toronto rate higher than a city like Zurich?

Here's another similar top-20 most liveable cities ranking in which Toronto doesn't even make the list: Monocle July 2007 (http://monocle.com/Magazine/volume-01/issue-05/)

[bcwessel]

The 2011 rankings were just released (if anybody has $500 burning a hole, they can purchase the full report here (http://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=Liveability2011).

Calgary provided the only change among Canadian cities in the top 10, moving into sole possession of the 5th spot (with Perth moving down to 8th, and Helsinki moving up one position to 6th).

The criteria used to compile the list are: infrastructure, culture, environment, stability and health care, with each heading being given equal weighting on a 100 point scale. In the 2011 rankings, Vancouver maintained its 98% score, making it the World's Most Liveable City (according to the Economist) for a 5th consecutive year.

The top ranked city in the US is Pittsburgh at #29, followed by Los Angeles at #44, and New York at #56. The lack of universal public health care and the relatively poor condition of many major US highways accounts for the disparity between Canadian and American cities.

[Waterlooer]

Do you have a link to a free version of the full report (priced at $250 on the Economist website)? :RpS_drool:

As for the intelligence of the Economist's Intelligence Unit, how can Toronto rate higher than a city like Zurich?

Here's another similar top-20 most liveable cities ranking in which Toronto doesn't even make the list: Monocle July 2007 (http://monocle.com/Magazine/volume-01/issue-05/)

I don't have a link sorry :RpS_sad: .

[Rowe]

As for the intelligence of the Economist's Intelligence Unit, how can Toronto rate higher than a city like Zurich?

Same could be said about Calgary.

I think Toronto deserves that spot. Yea, it has its issues, but they aren't unique to any large city.

[Spokes]

Same could be said about Calgary.

I think Toronto deserves that spot. Yea, it has its issues, but they aren't unique to any large city.

Yup I agree with you. On both counts. There are are a number of rankings that just make you scratch your head.

[bcwessel]

I agree with both of you that this (and all other similar rankings) are pretty meaningless, and generally methodologically narrow or otherwise unsound, but what about each city respectively do you think qualifies Toronto, but disqualifies Calgary?

[Rowe]

You could go on the TTC naked and no one would care. Personally I love the feeling of being in Toronto, no one knows your not a Torontonian and you can say and be whoever and no one will care if it is outrageous.

Generally Toronto is ranked high because of how cosmopolitan the city is. Something that also has to be factored in is the Canadian brand. Canada has a great reputation and brand around the world... same goes with our cities.

Vancouver has a clean, sophisticated 'brand.'

Toronto has a vibrant, cosmopolitan 'brand.'

Montreal has a edgy, cultural 'brand.'

Calgary has a fresh, adventurous 'brand.'

Maybe many don't see the cities in this way, but it is about the words these cities portray in a positive context that gives them their ranking.

[Waterlooer]

Rowe, +1

I like how you explained that.

I have never been here, but for Calgary, it's transportation seems amazing (many people use the C-train there)! It's also very clean, it was the world's cleanest city in 2007 I think, plus was named most eco-city in the world. It's a beautiful, modern city and is in style. I know 3 people who have went to Calgary and they say it's such a great city, they don't ever want to leave it.

[Greg Moore]

I know 3 people who have went to Calgary and they say it's suck a great city, they don't ever want to leave it.I figured out that the h and the k aren't that far apart on a keyboard. :)

My brother lived in the Calgary suburbs ten years ago and used to complain a lot about his commute. I wonder if it's worse or better now.

[Waterlooer]

I figured out that the h and the k aren't that far apart on a keyboard. :)


Yeah... :laugh2:

Edited!

[bcwessel]

City Livability Rankings, and the struggle for the Complete City
Brent Toderian | Planetizen | 21 March 2011 | LINK (http://www.planetizen.com/node/48604)

This article offers some interesting insights on the usefulness (or lack thereof) of projects like The Economist's City most liveable city rankings from Vancouver's Director of Planning, Brent Toderian.