Abstract
This study investigated aspects of urban quality of life in European cities. To this end, the Flash Eurobarometer 366: Quality of life in European cities was used. The survey provides opinions of 41 thousands inhabitants from 79 European cities, which enables analysis of interrelation between citizen characteristics, neighbourhood and city contexts and satisfaction with life in a city. The study analysed the following dimensions potentially related to satisfaction with life in a city: (1) availability of services, environment and social aspects in cities and neighbourhood; (2) socio-demographic factors; and (3) city characteristics such as economic development, labour market pressures, size, location, quality of institutions and safety.Findings indicated that satisfaction with life in a city varied considerably both inside cities and across Europe. Dissatisfaction with public transport, cultural facilities, availability of retail outlets, green space, air quality, trustworthiness of people, public administration and administrational efficiency, contributed significantly to dissatisfaction with life in a city. However, when citizens felt secure and satisfied with their place of living, they were also more likely to be satisfied with life in a city. Finally, cities with high percentage of people satisfied with safety in a city tended to be those in which citizens were also more satisfied with life in a city.
Highlights
Current focus of urban, social and even economic policy is on cities
This article was written to heed the call of scholars for more evidence on various aspects of city life and city features contributing to urban quality of life (Ballas & Dorling, 2013; Insch, 2010; Insch & Florek, 2008, 2010; Zenker & Rütter, 2014)
Data used was from the Flash Eurobarometer 366: Quality of life in the European cities (European Union, 2013),1 a survey was carried out towards the end of 2012 in 27 European Union countries, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey
Summary
Social and even economic policy is on cities. Cities, seeking to attract capital and investors to develop large-scale urban projects, are believed to be becoming entrepreneurs, (Hartley, Potts, MacDonald, Erkunt, & Kufleitner, 2012; Vivant, 2013) and smart living places, attracting creative individuals to become new citizens (Florida, 2005; Institute for Urban Strategies, 2014; Zenker, Eggers, & Farsky, 2013). Urban and community quality of life has become central to policy in most European Union (EU) countries, as reflected by numerous European and governmental papers on policy, as well as scientific publications presenting conceptual visions towards developing conditions for life in cities (Banai & Rapino, 2009; Insch & Florek, 2008; Sirgy & Cornwell, 2002; Smith et al, 1997; van Kamp, Leidelmeijer, Marsman, & de Hollander, 2003) These visions are mainly theoretical, seldom supported by empirical analysis due to the obvious limitations to a visionary, forward-looking landscape or urban planning perspective (van Kamp et al, 2003). Does general perception of a city contribute to urban quality of life reported by citizens?
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