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Livability and Subjective Well-Being Across European Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn

    (Rutgers University
    Vistula University)

  • Rubia R. Valente

    (Baruch College, CUNY)

Abstract

This study documents for the first time the correlation between livability and subjective well-being (SWB) across European cities. Livability is measured with the popular Mercer Quality of Living Survey and correlates considerably with SWB, measured as place and life satisfactions. There are outliers, for instance: the “unlivable” but “happy” Belfast (fool’s paradise) and the “livable,” but “unhappy” Paris (fool’s hell). In addition, we find geographic patterns: while the Mercer index ranks higher Western cities, subjective well-being is higher in Northern cities. Smaller cities score higher on both livability and SWB, confirming thus the urban sociological theory of urban malaise while contradicting urban economic theory of city triumph.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Rubia R. Valente, 2019. "Livability and Subjective Well-Being Across European Cities," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(1), pages 197-220, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:14:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-017-9587-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-017-9587-7
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    7. Yavuz Alkan, 2023. "Assessment of sustainable green campus in terms of students with disabilities and landscaping: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11367-11395, October.
    8. Heiko Rüger & Stefanie Hoherz & Norbert F. Schneider & Herbert Fliege & Maria M. Bellinger & Brenton M. Wiernik, 2023. "The Effects of Urban Living Conditions on Subjective Well-Being: The Case of German Foreign Service Employees," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 1939-1963, August.
    9. Olegs Krasnopjorovs, 2022. "Ready for the next 820? Looking for the keys to paradise of Riga city," Discussion Papers 2022/02, Latvijas Banka.
    10. Jakub GAJDOS & Oto HUDEC, 2020. "European Cities: What Matters For Subjective Well-Being?," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(4), pages 5-20, November.
    11. Hang Liu & Xiaohong Chen & Ying Wang & Xiaoqing Xu & Mingxuan Zhang, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Urban Spatial Quality in Northeast China Based on DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS Nighttime Light Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
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