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City Life: Rankings (Livability) Versus Perceptions (Satisfaction)

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  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn

Abstract

I investigate the relationship between the popular Mercer city ranking (livability) and survey data (satisfactions). Livability aims to capture objective quality of life such as infrastructure. Survey items capture subjective quality of life such as satisfaction with city. The relationship between objective measures of quality of life and subjective measures is weak (correlation of about 0.4). Trust is highly correlated with both, objective livability (0.8) and subjective satisfaction with city (0.65). I postulate to pay more attention to subjective indicators of quality of life. After all, what matters is what we perceive, not what is out there. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2013. "City Life: Rankings (Livability) Versus Perceptions (Satisfaction)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 433-451, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:110:y:2013:i:2:p:433-451
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-011-9939-x
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