Toronto fourth most livable city in the world: The Economist
According to The Economist’s annual ranking of global cities, Toronto is the fourth most livable city in the world. Hogtown scored 97.2 out of a possible 100 points—a rating that considers a number of indicators under the categories of stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Each indicator is rated according to acceptability, and each category is given a certain amount of weight, all of which are then amassed to assess the locations around the world that have the best and worst living conditions. Toronto’s scores, after the jump.
Rank: 4
Overall rating: 97.2
Stability: 100
Health care: 100
Culture and environment: 97.2
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 89.3
The top 10 spots are dominated mostly by Canadian and Australian cities: Vancouver took first place with 98.0, Melbourne is second with 97.5, while Calgary is fifth with 96.6. Rounding out the top 10 are Vienna (3), Helsinki (6), Sydney (7), Perth (8), Adelaide (9) and Auckland (10).
So what makes a high-ranking city? According to the report, “Cities that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. This often fosters a broad range of recreational availability without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.” The report notes that Vancouver maintained its top spot from last year partially thanks to its Olympic economic boost: “Vancouver (Canada) remains at the top of the ranking, a position that can only have been cemented by the successful hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which provided a boost to the infrastructure and culture and environment categories.”
This being The Economist, the stats have a lot to do with money. Apparently, the report can have an effect on global salary distribution; some companies use the information to determine hardship allowances for employees relocated to some of the cities on the low end of the scale. Cities like those in the bottom ten: Colombo (130), Dakar (131), Tehran (132), Douala (133), Karachi (134), Algiers (135), Lagos (136), Port Moresby (137), Dhaka (138) and Harare (140).
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According to The Economist’s annual ranking of global cities, Toronto is the fourth most livable city in the world. Hogtown scored 97.2 out of a possible 100 points—a rating that considers a number of indicators under the categories of stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Each indicator is rated according to acceptability, and each category is given a certain amount of weight, all of which are then amassed to assess the locations around the world that have the best and worst living conditions. Toronto’s scores, after the jump.
Rank: 4
Overall rating: 97.2
Stability: 100
Health care: 100
Culture and environment: 97.2
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 89.3
The top 10 spots are dominated mostly by Canadian and Australian cities: Vancouver took first place with 98.0, Melbourne is second with 97.5, while Calgary is fifth with 96.6. Rounding out the top 10 are Vienna (3), Helsinki (6), Sydney (7), Perth (8), Adelaide (9) and Auckland (10).
So what makes a high-ranking city? According to the report, “Cities that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. This often fosters a broad range of recreational availability without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.” The report notes that Vancouver maintained its top spot from last year partially thanks to its Olympic economic boost: “Vancouver (Canada) remains at the top of the ranking, a position that can only have been cemented by the successful hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which provided a boost to the infrastructure and culture and environment categories.”
This being The Economist, the stats have a lot to do with money. Apparently, the report can have an effect on global salary distribution; some companies use the information to determine hardship allowances for employees relocated to some of the cities on the low end of the scale. Cities like those in the bottom ten: Colombo (130), Dakar (131), Tehran (132), Douala (133), Karachi (134), Algiers (135), Lagos (136), Port Moresby (137), Dhaka (138) and Harare (140).
• Where the livin’ is easiest [The Economist]){kind=link}
Toronto has scored 100 in three areas. The two areas in which an score of less than 100 has been achieved are: 1) culture & environment, and 2) infrastructure.
Incidentally these two areas are completely in the hands of the mayor, the honorable Mr. Ford.
I am sure one of his targets will be to enhance these two areas to the extent that TORONTO will get 100 in the next annual ranking.
“Honourable” Mr. Ford improving the environment? I don’t see how since he is pro car, anti-bike, anti-streetcar, wants to cancel the building retrofits that Miller started, believes that green incentives and policies are a waste of money. Ford improving culture? Isn’t he one of those right winged loons who think culture is something being wasted by the “liberal elites” and that if you are a painter who can’t sell a single painting then you should starve to death or move on by making burgers at Mickey Dee’s? Improving Infrastructure? Doesn’t he want to cancel Transit City which would improve transit to thousands of people in impoverished neighbourhoods so that he can extend a subway line that nobody uses into a low density area? How the hell is he going to improve infrastructure if he can’t find any “gravy”? Toronto needs to upgrade its sewage, water system, transit, roads. I can guarantee that none of it will happen while Ford panders to the dumb popular vote by promising unsustainable tax freezes and no gravy to be found. Another droid that follows cheap populist rhetoric instead of trying to inform himself. Very sad…
Carl Patrick for mayor! Thank you for that!
I second the aforementioned.
I love Toronto as a city and a place to call home. But the fact that we even made the top ten (let alone 4th AND beating out Calgary) is somewhat astonishing!!
Let’s face it, the city’s infrastructure sucks. Moving around within the city is one of the most painful things. Is there room for improvement – always! But it won’t happen overnight. Hopefully Ford will start to clean up the biggest areas of waste and start revitalizing this city to its full potential!
@M.RAZIPOUR
thanks for the laugh…I needed that.