I’m finding the Mercer’s 2009 Quality of Living survey much more useful as it provides a special ranking for hubs with the best infrastructure. Note that Mercer’ survey is meant to be used as a comparison tool to determine compensation packages for companies with personnel abroad. Yet, as usual, it is fun to make a list of the cities where you would want to live next, right?

Here are the Top 5 cities in each region, according to the Mercer survey:

The Monocle Global Quality of Life Index may one day graduate to adopt a scientific methodology that considers a larger spectrum of cities around the world, but I’m happy to settle for their current coverage and play the my-city-is-better-than-yours game, using the tidbits of quick facts they’ve compiled. For those who don’t buy the magazine here are the top 10 cities:

Good looks, brains, perfect proportions, a sunny disposition and a sense of humour are always a winning combination…

It combines a strong economy with rich cultural offerings. The city’s workforce is highly [...]]]> I owe a big apology to all my loyal readers for keeping you in the dark over the last 3 months. Since my last post I travelled to Mexico twice, shared the stage in San Francisco with some of the authorities on the “geoweb”, travelled to Corsica, the French Riviera, Lake Como, St. Moritz; and managed to launch PlanetEye.com where I lead the Technology team. Intense to say the least. But the most recent issue of Monocle has me burning the proverbial midnight oil and finding energy to start posting regularly again. Thanks for your comments while I was away.

The Monocle Global Quality of Life Index may one day graduate to adopt a scientific methodology that considers a larger spectrum of cities around the world, but I’m happy to settle for their current coverage and play the my-city-is-better-than-yours game, using the tidbits of quick facts they’ve compiled. For those who don’t buy the magazine here are the top 10 cities:

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Good looks, brains, perfect proportions, a sunny disposition and a sense of humour are always a winning combination…

2. Munich, Germany

It combines a strong economy with rich cultural offerings. The city’s workforce is highly qualified; its universities world class. And if the walls start closing in you’ve got the Alps on your doorstep.

3. Tokyo, Japan

… a new generation of well-travelled, job-hopping twenty and thirtysomethings who are changing Tokyo, challenging stereotypes…

4. Zürich, Switzerland

The city’s world-class education facilities and cultural offerings, great local public transport and well-connected airport mean it can satisfy even the most demanding employees.

5. Helsinki, Finland

Waterside revival, civic pride and a view to Asia bode well for the city…

6. Vienna, Austria

Don’t be deceived by Vienna’s apparent bourgeois rectitude…

7. Stockholm, Sweden

… with its archipelago, pristine parks and old architecture, is pretty as a princess cake – the Swedes’ favourite birthday treat.

8. Vancouver, Canada

By accepting increased building density as official city policy, Vancouver believes it is leading the continent in addressing climate change.

9. Melbourne, Australia

its economy is humming, its arts scene is thriving, and more than 1,000 new people a week are calling the city home.

10. Paris, France

…it is setting benchmarks in urbanism that have officials from around the world heading to meet mayor Bertrand Delanoë.

Sydney, Honolulu, Madrid, Berlin, Barcelona, Montréal, Fukuoka, Amsterdam, Minneapolis, Kyoto, Hamburg, Singapore, Geneva, Lisbon and Portland follow the leaders.

But the ranking is just a great marketing tool. Much more interesting and relevant to the readers of this blog are the articles “Thinking cities” which collects ideas from some of the best recognized urban thinkers; and “Perfect neighbourhood”, a redux of their ideal borough dream from last year. More on this in upcoming posts.

. However I wasn’t able to find such factors anywhere, not even after paying for the full report. Anyway, this are the top 10 according to them, nothing that we haven’t seen before:

Still, I never get tired of ranking cities and feeling a bit proud on behalf [...]]]> I’m sure is not because Monocle released their most liveable cities report just a month ago, but now is The Economist releasing their Liveability rankings with the article Where the grass is greener. While Monocle’s report came in the form of a wonderful edition, perfectly written and documented, the Economist Intelligence Unit barely delivers a table with the rankings without much analysis behind. True, Monocle used criteria such “fair balance of sunny and warm days” and “availability of drinks after hours”, but the overall delivery convinced. According to The Economist

The survey takes over 40 factors into consideration which are weighted across five different categories: Stability; Healthcare; Culture & Environment; Education; and Infrastructure. Across the survey a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data are used, which are combined to give an overall Quality of Life Index rating.

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However I wasn’t able to find such factors anywhere, not even after paying for the full report. Anyway, this are the top 10 according to them, nothing that we haven’t seen before:

1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Perth, Australia
5. Toronto, Canada
6. Adelaide, Australia
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. Geneva, Switzerland
10. Zurich, Switzerland

Still, I never get tired of ranking cities and feeling a bit proud on behalf of those cities that I’ve come to know one way or another.

Update: after corresponding with the Editor of the report at the Economist Intelligence Unit I was given access to the full report which documents their methodology. The ranking is based on 5 categories:

• Stability (25%): crime, conflict
• Healthcare (20%): private & public healthcare
• Culture & Environment (25%): weather, freedoms, culture, food, goods
• Education (10%): private & public education
• Infrastructure (20%): public transportation, international connections, housing, services, telecomminications

As suspected, their analysis is far more methodic but is intended to help companies planning to expand make decisions about how to compensate workers being transferred.

The survey was conducted in June 2007 so if you’re curious about the ranking of your city, send me a note and I’ll share the data.

With a well documented rating behind each one of the cities in the list, it is going to be hard to argue that they’ve done their homework, but it still feels very subjective. In any case, [...]]]> Hyper-connected to the rest of the world through an ample offering of long-haul flights, low crime rates, great education and health system, fair balance of sunny and warm days, plenty of ways to stay informed, availability of drinks after hours, good public transit, lots of green areas and a will to keep them green. This is the method behind the first Monocle Quality of Life Index.

For international flight connections it would be Paris but for an airport it would have to be Munich. On crime it would be a Japanese city – either Tokyo or Kyoto would do. Zürich and Helsinki would be our key contributors for hospitals and schools while Sydney and Honolulu offer the best weather. [...] For a good night out we’d want to be resident in Madrid, Tokyo or Barcelona and for getting home we’d opt for Munich’s public transport and Copenhagen’s bike network if we were sober enough to pedal home ourselves.

With a well documented rating behind each one of the cities in the list, it is going to be hard to argue that they’ve done their homework, but it still feels very subjective. In any case, kudos to the top 10 cities:

1. Munich, Germany

A winning combination of investment in infrastructure, high-quality housing, low crime, liberal politics, strong media and general feeling of Gemütlichkeit make it a city that should inspire others.

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

There’s no shame coming second, particularly when phase two of your new metro is about to go live, your airport is a joy, you can bike safely through the city and you have so many stunning residents.

3. Zürich, Switzerland

for being one of the best-connected, best endowed, safest and easiest to navigate cities in the world [...] run one of the most high-frequency public transports networks in the world and boast a bathing culture that sees the trimmest bodies at Bank Julius Bar strip off at lunch for a cooling plunge in tis mountain-water-fed lake.

4. Tokyo, Japan

Integrated transport, breathtaking technology, great service and the best bars make this our top big city.

5. Vienna, Austria

famous for its rich cultural heritage, also has a progressive eco-friendly municipal government.

6. Helsinki, Finland

What’s lost in the winter darkness is replaced by great cultural and sporting outlets, Stockmann’s bookstore and a good music scene.

7. Sydney, Australia

The city has some environmental issues and an antiquated trasnport system. But then there’s the beach…

8. Stockholm, Sweden

An eye for detail, good street style and strong public services make this a pleasant place to build a nest.

9. Honolulu, United States

Bridging the oceanic gap between California and Asia, Honolulu now fits the definition of a global city – a palm-fringed metropolis with a population as diverse as its flora.

10. Madrid, Spain

Red tape and poor infrastructure are counterbalanced by cultural vibrancy and a 24-hour lifestyle

Melbourne, Montreal, Barcelona, Kyoto, Vancouver, Auckland, Singapore, Hamburg, Paris & Geneva follow the leaders with their own advantages in this ranking, which along the rest of the magazine does a lot to uncover great urban experiences.

I’ve posted other rankings that measure cities against each other and Monocle’s approach is certainly interesting but with the growing global awareness many of the advantages that some of these cities hold will soon be replicated and enjoyed in tandem by citizens of most global cities. Perhaps it is the article Good Hood found in the pages that follow the ranking that offers a greater insight as to what makes a true liveable city: plenty of neighborhoods with the diversity and vibrancy to keep their inhabitants satisfied with a range of local world-class services. For all other goods of life you can always aspire to your next adventure abroad.

Thanks to Slava for recommending the magazine. It is a great discovery.

My post on big city refers to the efforts of Mayors in some of the largest cities around the world, but I believe in the ability of the common citizen to commit her energy to improving our city life. If you don’t believe it, just check the manifesto for global cities in which I account of a small group of bloggers in Pittsburgh contributing great ideas to turn their city round. In place of God: explores the soul of a city, an elusive concept that some [...]]]> Continuing with the annotation of the special report on cities by The Economist. If you haven’t, please read part 1 first.

• Failures at the top: concludes that the single most important factor contributing to the success of a modern city is its government. All great cities, or cities that have gone through important renewal were characterized by influential thinkers taking the lead with passion.
  

  In the 1980s Chicago lost companies, jobs and people, and seemed destined to languish in gradual decline in much the same way as Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh. But energetic government led by a mayor, Richard Daley, whose ambitions start and end with his home town, has truned the city round.

  My post on big city refers to the efforts of Mayors in some of the largest cities around the world, but I believe in the ability of the common citizen to commit her energy to improving our city life. If you don’t believe it, just check the manifesto for global cities in which I account of a small group of bloggers in Pittsburgh contributing great ideas to turn their city round.

• In place of God: explores the soul of a city, an elusive concept that some refer as its culture. An important renaissance is taking place across some of the largest cities driven by the rebirth of their cultural institutions and a new emphasis on developing city cores as opposed to endless sprawl. One thing is certain: many cities around the world are converging into a life style that seems perfect for a few players. The idle class talks about the all-too-comfortable life style that so many aspire to reach and that contributes very little to develop society beyond its ability to consume. Definitely one of the important ideas of this blog.
  Also, checkout the 2007 citygeist for a fun look at what some of the most cosmopolitan cities are doing to renew their soul.
• The reinvention test: the top ten cities in 2006 were Zurich & Geneva (Switzerland), Vancouver (Canada), Vienna (Austria), Auckland (New Zealand), Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich (Germany), Bern (Switzerland) and Sydney (Australia). But I have explored other methods to determine the degree to which a nation succeeds through its influence in world affairs, leading to a different ranking: check it out in airports & tourists.
• Et in suburbia ego?: presents the debate between suburbia and downtown with equal amount of critics claiming each one will prevail. If anything the debate on Global Warming has tipped the scales in favour of city cores, but perhaps the more important argument yet to be recognized in the evolution of global cities is the fact that their growth will be powered by a legion of immigrants with limited resources (see the south in the hearth of the north) and while they would gladly buy a small apartment downtown or settle in a nice community in the suburbs the fact is that most of them get trapped in the slums of hope. These often neglected areas contribute to the growth of cities in a very important way and yet are out of control. There is no stopping the ongoing migration that makes them grow, but only smart cities will find a way to integrate these people in the economic life and build flourishing corridors abundant with life and hope.