Paper Review

A Multivariate Analysis of the Determinants of Urban

Quality of Life in the World's Largest Metropolitan
Areas
By : Abu Jafar Mohammad Sufian

Guided By : Submitted by:

Ar. Mrudul Deshmukh
Ar. Razi Khan SIr. F.Y. M.arch
M.I.T., Aurangabad.
Summary:

Here, the author, Abu Jafar Mohammad Sufian, is talking about Population Crisis
Committee’s (PCC), study of 98 biggest metros in the world, to assess their living
standards. This selection was completely based on number of inhabitants. The cities
studied, belonged to 45 counties. India and China had maximum number of metros 9
each. They were judged on 10 parameters with 10 points each. They were classified
in 3 categories finally and were analysed. The data collection was done through
questionnaires.
___________________________________________________________________
 Traditionally, metros were found in developed nations with rapid growth of
industrialization.
 That’s not the case today. Developing countries have more number for metros
than developed countries globally.
 Lack of vision and preparation then results in a greater number of slums and
shanty towns with greater development rate than the city itself.
 In India and I am assuming even abroad, in developing countries like Mexico,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc; these places are also seen as vote banks.
 These cities then fail to keep-up with the demand of growing population.

 The metros when ranked based on their population, Tokyo topped the list
while Pune was at the bottom. Then the study was carried out based on 10
parameters to determine the quality of life of these cities.
 Parameters of quality of life:
- Public safety
- Food cost
- Living space
- Housing standard
- Communication
- Education
- Public health
- Peace and quiet
- Traffic flow
- Clean air
 Based on these parameters, the cities were evaluated and were categorised
as very good, good, fair and poor.
 Some of observations from the study were:
- Metros have more murder rate than rural areas.
- Expenditure on food in developed countries is 20% or less.
- Expenditure on food in developing countries is more than 50%.
- 1/3 or more urban residents lack even running water and electricity.
- Lack of good communication in developing country metros. Etc.
  After this the cities were classified in to 3 types: high, medium and low. All the
Indian cities are under low category.

 One of the reasons is population. Not enough food production.

 Farmers don’t earn much. They need to be educated and strengthened.
 Social harmony.
 Low growing metros are preferred as they give you time to improve the
infrastructure. We can learn from other’s mistakes.
 Communication devices – educating people about it.
 Better distribution of resources.
 Income disparity or uneven distribution of wealth. – expense on food is
discussed again.

Urbanization is an ongoing phenomenon. Cities play a vital role in economic growth

and regional development as they offer employment, higher education and
specialised services and are centres of innovation and technology.

At the same time, they struggle for social cohesion and environmental sustainability,
since serious contemporary problems like social inequality, environmental
degradation, crime, etc. are considered to accompany urban life.

So, the studies that are carried out to determine the QOL, are far from standard.
They seem inadequate to really evaluate a city and its real need.

n 2010 the World Health

Organisation dedicated
the Word Health Day to
urbanization and
health, highlighting the
impacts of urban living
on physical and mental
health. This is because
it is increasingly
acknowledged that cities
face various problems
that undermine the
quality of
urban life, e.g.social
inequalities, urban
crime, poor
environment, and
traffic congestion.
Despite this fact, cities
continue to play a
vital role in
development, as they
offer higher
education, specialized
services and jobs.
When it comes to an
assessment of the
living
conditions and well-
being in cities,
economic indices have
failed to capture the
aforementioned
contradiction of urban
life. A concept able to
monitor the
multidimensional
nature of cities seems to
be the “quality of urban
life” (QOUL).
The multidimensionality
of the QOUL concept
reflects the variety of
the examined
dimensions, but also the
range of the different
uses of the term. Many
different approaches of
this concept can be
found not only between
papers of different
disciplines (health
sciences,
social sciences or
planning), but also in
the context of the
same scientific field.
Thus,
although there has
recently been a
remarkable number of
comparative studies
and papers
concerning the
evaluation of QOUL in
different cities, the
factors taken into
account are far
from being standard.
In part, this is
because the
constituents of the
QOUL depend on
rather subjective
factors, such as culture
and tradition in the
examined places.
However, for a given
place and a
specific period there can
be an agreement
concerning the factors
which determine the
QOUL.
This will allow for
relative research to be
comparable and better
interpretable.
1
PhD Candidate, University of
Thessaly, Volos, Greece ,
epsatha@prd.uth.gr
2
Associate Professor,
University of Thessaly, Volos,
Greece, adeffner@prd.uth.gr
3
Associate Professor,
Panteion University, Athens,
psycharis@panteion.gr
This paper starts with an
analysis of the standard
approaches of the
concept “quality of
urban life” as they
can be found in the
relative scientific
literature. It continues
with the
analysis of the factors
which determine the
QOUL in societies,
focusing in cities. The
criteria
taken into account for
the measurement of the
QOUL in the evaluation
of cities and the city
rankings are also
examined. Finally, a
range of factors which
can be used as a
standard set
when examining the
QOUL in European cities
is proposed.
n 2010 the World Health
Organisation dedicated
the Word Health Day to
urbanization and
health, highlighting the
impacts of urban living
on physical and mental
health. This is because
it is increasingly
acknowledged that cities
face various problems
that undermine the
quality of
urban life, e.g.social
inequalities, urban
crime, poor
environment, and
traffic congestion.
Despite this fact, cities
continue to play a
vital role in
development, as they
offer higher
education, specialized
services and jobs.
When it comes to an
assessment of the
living
conditions and well-
being in cities,
economic indices have
failed to capture the
aforementioned
contradiction of urban
life. A concept able to
monitor the
multidimensional
nature of cities seems to
be the “quality of urban
life” (QOUL).
The multidimensionality
of the QOUL concept
reflects the variety of
the examined
dimensions, but also the
range of the different
uses of the term. Many
different approaches of
this concept can be
found not only between
papers of different
disciplines (health
sciences,
social sciences or
planning), but also in
the context of the
same scientific field.
Thus,
although there has
recently been a
remarkable number of
comparative studies
and papers
concerning the
evaluation of QOUL in
different cities, the
factors taken into
account are far
from being standard.
In part, this is
because the
constituents of the
QOUL depend on
rather subjective
factors, such as culture
and tradition in the
examined places.
However, for a given
place and a
specific period there can
be an agreement
concerning the factors
which determine the
QOUL.
This will allow for
relative research to be
comparable and better
interpretable.
1
PhD Candidate, University of
Thessaly, Volos, Greece ,
epsatha@prd.uth.gr
2
Associate Professor,
University of Thessaly, Volos,
Greece, adeffner@prd.uth.gr
3
Associate Professor,
Panteion University, Athens,
psycharis@panteion.gr
This paper starts with an
analysis of the standard
approaches of the
concept “quality of
urban life” as they
can be found in the
relative scientific
literature. It continues
with the
analysis of the factors
which determine the
QOUL in societies,
focusing in cities. The
criteria
taken into account for
the measurement of the
QOUL in the evaluation
of cities and the city
rankings are also
examined. Finally, a
range of factors which
can be used as a
standard set
when examining the
QOUL in European cities
is proposed.
n 2010 the World Health
Organisation dedicated
the Word Health Day to
urbanization and
health, highlighting the
impacts of urban living
on physical and mental
health. This is because
it is increasingly
acknowledged that cities
face various problems
that undermine the
quality of
urban life, e.g.social
inequalities, urban
crime, poor
environment, and
traffic congestion.
Despite this fact, cities
continue to play a
vital role in
development, as they
offer higher
education, specialized
services and jobs.
When it comes to an
assessment of the
living
conditions and well-
being in cities,
economic indices have
failed to capture the
aforementioned
contradiction of urban
life. A concept able to
monitor the
multidimensional
nature of cities seems to
be the “quality of urban
life” (QOUL).
The multidimensionality
of the QOUL concept
reflects the variety of
the examined
dimensions, but also the
range of the different
uses of the term. Many
different approaches of
this concept can be
found not only between
papers of different
disciplines (health
sciences,
social sciences or
planning), but also in
the context of the
same scientific field.
Thus,
although there has
recently been a
remarkable number of
comparative studies
and papers
concerning the
evaluation of QOUL in
different cities, the
factors taken into
account are far
from being standard.
In part, this is
because the
constituents of the
QOUL depend on
rather subjective
factors, such as culture
and tradition in the
examined places.
However, for a given
place and a
specific period there can
be an agreement
concerning the factors
which determine the
QOUL.
This will allow for
relative research to be
comparable and better
interpretable.
1
PhD Candidate, University of
Thessaly, Volos, Greece ,
epsatha@prd.uth.gr
2
Associate Professor,
University of Thessaly, Volos,
Greece, adeffner@prd.uth.gr
3
Associate Professor,
Panteion University, Athens,
psycharis@panteion.gr
This paper starts with an
analysis of the standard
approaches of the
concept “quality of
urban life” as they
can be found in the
relative scientific
literature. It continues
with the
analysis of the factors
which determine the
QOUL in societies,
focusing in cities. The
criteria
taken into account for
the measurement of the
QOUL in the evaluation
of cities and the city
rankings are also
examined. Finally, a
range of factors which
can be used as a
standard set
when examining the
QOUL in European cities
is proposed.