Quality of life in the urban context, within the paradigm of digital human capital

Abstract

Human capital is crucial in the development of smart cities and directly impacts quality of life. Smart cities are not made only through their infrastructures and applied technologies but also by their residents' digital capabilities. In this paper, we analyze the relationship between citizens' digital capabilities and their perception of quality of life. Specifically, we use data from a survey in Spain in 2023 from citizens residing in cities with populations exceeding 100,000 with responses from 587 individuals.The results reveal a significant correlation between the level of digital skills and various factors determining quality of life. Residents in densely populated urban areas show higher levels of social happiness when they possess greater digital capabilities. Additionally, one of the questions captured the citizens' digital capabilities, enabling the identification of three clusters. These clusters exhibit significant differences in access to essential services, job opportunities, and levels of social interaction. Residents with more advanced digital skills benefit from greater availability of services and higher-paying jobs, although they experience lower levels of social interaction. Therefore, we demonstrate the fundamental importance of human capital and digital ability as critical components in the construction of smart cities and the improvement of social happiness.