Liberal democratic countries have the "most liveable" cities

Says the Economist.  Their methodology was to examine many factors within the broad categories of stability, health care, culture, environment, education, infrastructure.

By their measures, Vancouver is the "most liveable" city in the world.  Eight of the top ten are in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.  The other two are Helsinki and Vienna. 

The Economist says that this is mostly because of their "perfect" scores on education and health care.  Health care, no doubt, is probably why no cities in the USA were in the top 10--that, and the possibility of being shot at.

Overall, the cities of western Europe are a tad bit more liveable than those in North America.  Both had scores in the low 90's.  The world average is 76.  For all its problems, Detroit (40) scored higher than New York City (56) or London (54).  The Economist blog attributes this to differing scores on "stability," i.e. crime, terrorism, but, whatever the explanation, that particular result seems mighty strange.

The Economist didn't release the full list, but no doubt Denver scores high in the United States.  Using different metrics, the Partners for Liveable Communities had ranked Denver first.  On the other hand, by some (poorly informed) accounts, Pittsburgh is best, and Denver isn't even in the top 10.

Vancouver deserves the designation.  It's a great place.  In North America, its natural setting is rivalled only by San Francisco, and, may I say, Denver.  Credit where credit is due, Vancouver has mountains and ocean.  Denver just has mountains--albeit cooler ones. 

Most striking to me was the large number of people who live downtown in Vancouver.  Most of the high-rises downtown are apartments and condos, not offices.  People live there as well as work there, which brings a pleasant vibrancy to the core of the city.

Congrats to our wonderful neighbor to the north.  When you need a break from the rain, come to Denver where the sun shines 300 days a year.

Photo:  HuffPost  

Comments

[toujoursdan]

Vancouver also has a bylaw that forces those downtown condo developers to contribute a certain amount of money and space towards schools, parks and other amenities, which makes downtown a bit more livable. I think that's fairly unique in North America.

I lived in Calgary and have visited Denver and the two cities are actually very very similar. Calgary is a bit smaller and cleaner (and colder obviously) but the physical setting is nearly the same.

[JenifferEz35]

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[John Petty]

Yeah, Dan, I checked out Calgary after the 2004 election. It was a close call--a life time of sub-zero temperatures, or four more years with George W.