Dream Awakener

Mercer Human Resource Consulting does extensive studies on more than 350 cities around the world, to help government and multinational companies place employees on international assignments.  Last month they posted their latest study in the World-wide quality of living report.  The study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of living determinants, grouped in the following categories:

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
• Economic environment (currency, exchange regulation, banking services, etc)
• Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
• Medical health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
• Schools and education (standard and availability of schools, etc)
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
• Recreation (restaurants, theaters, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
• Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
• Natural Environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

WORLD RESULTS

• Singapore is the highest ranked Asian city at position 34
• Eight Japanese cities rank in the top 70, including Tokyo
• Zurich scores highest for quality of living, Bagdad ranks lowest
• Cities in Canada, Europe and Australia dominate the
• Honolulu is the highest ranking city in the US at 27, Houston is the lowest at 68
• Every US city studied ranked in the top 70

TOP 10 CITIES IN WORLD FOR QUALITY LIVING – 2006

1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Geneva, Switzerland
3. Vancover, Canada
4. Vienna, Austria
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Munich, Germany
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Sydney, Australia (tied for 9th)

RANKINGS OF US CITIES

1. Honolulu, Hi    (27th in world)
2. San Francisco, CA    (28th in world)
3. Boston, MA    (36th in world)
4. Washington, D.C.    (41st in the world)
5. Chicago, IL    (41st in the world)
6. Portland, OR    (43th in the world)
7. New York City, NY (46th in the world)
8. Seattle, WA    (47 in the world)
9. Lexington, KY    (48th in the world)
10. Pittsburgh, PA    (49th in the world)
11. Winston-Salem, NC    (49th in the world)
12. Los Angeles, CA    (55th in the world – moving up one spot from last year)
13. Cleveland, OH    (59th in the world)
14. Minneapolis, MN    (60th in the world)
15. St. Louis, MO    (61st in the world)
16. Miami, FL    (63rd in the world)
17. Detroit, MI    (65th in the world)
18. Atlanta, GA    (66th in the world)
19. Houston, TX    (68th in the world)

Obviously to learn more you can go to Mercer’s website.  Hat tip to Sander Chan.  If you go to Sander’s blog you will see the top 10 from the EU. If you want an in-depth report for your city, you can purchase one from
Mercer’s Human Resource Consulting  for $360/EUR 300.  You can see a
sample report of Mambai, India from the year 2003 as an example.