Liveability | Where the grass is greener | Economist.com:
While liveability considers factors of recreational and cultural activity, the “big city buzz” can hamper the scores of some cities, although not to the extent that a city will present significant challenges. Global centres such as New York, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong and Paris may find themselves let down precisely because of their size and attractiveness. Traffic congestion and higher crime rates associated with large urban centres have, to some extent, offset the obvious cultural gains of living in such locations.
Fancy that: urban design and planning, including growth management, are good things (hey, it’s the market speaking, not me: must be true). Good, reliable transportation, quality services, and — look at the list — scenic locations all factor in. It would be interesting to see where various US cities fit that list, since none of them make the top 10 (or the bottom 10, of course).
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