Estimation of quality of life in Korean cities

Abstract

This paper estimated the level of quality of life of 74 cities in Korea. In order to figure out the quality of life in those cities, the author estimated wage and housing expenditure functions through the hedonic method. By using the coefficients of the estimated these functions, he then calculated 15 implicit factor prices associated with quality of life. For this, Korean Household Panel Data and other related data were used. He found that the top-ranking city, in regard to the quality of life, was Seiguipo city. On the other hand, the lowest ranking city was Hanam city. He concluded that the cities maintaining high quality of life had commonly well established infrastructure, while those of low level of quality of life were classified as newly developed cities in which suffered from basic infrastructure.