Sara Fletcher in Good Cities asks: Why are Canada and Australia home to the most ideal cities?
She notes what The Economist (home of the liveability list) says:
… mid-sized cities in developed countries with relatively low population densities tend to score well by having all the cultural and infrastructural benefits on offer with fewer problems related to crime or congestion.
And then asks: “how important is livability to a resident’s happiness anyway?”
I’m not completely sold on the qualification … and I’m not alone. Matt Kiebus at Death and Taxes thinks “livability” sucks, saying “No one wants to brag about residing in a ‘liviable’ city—it sounds mediocre, it conveys the impression that [they’re] settling.”
Are they?
