LIVABLE CITIES

"A livable community is one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing
and transportation options, and offers supportive community features and services. Once in
place, those resources enhance personal independence; allow residents to age in place; and
foster residents' engagement in the community's civic, economic, and social life." – AARP
Public Policy Institute (2017)
What is 'Liveability'?
The 'Liveability' concept was popularized for cities in 1999 with the Gore/Clinton Livability
Agenda and gained momentum as a framework for "new tools and resources to preserve
green space, ease traffic congestion, and pursue regional 'smart growth' strategies"
(Herman & Lewis, 2017). The concept has since been developed further – based on what
was considered as important features of having a balanced life. For instance, Mercer's
Quality of Living Survey ranks cities based on 39 holistic factors, including economic,
environmental, personal safety, health, education, transportations and other public service
factors (Mercer, 2011). Moreover, the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability
Index Report 2018 ranked cities according to 5 parameters of stability, healthcare, culture
& environment, education, and infrastructure (EIU, 2018).
Urban liveability can simply be rephrased as quality of life in cities, but its concept is complex
because of the heterogeneous nature of cities and the encompassing meaning of quality of
life
. Urban geographers focus on human behavior–environment relationships, and define urban
liveability as the extent to which a city can satisfy the physical and psychological needs and
demands of its residents. Geographers assess residents' satisfaction by using both objective
and subjective indicators and information, and explain liveability by delving into contextual
factors. The common objectives of urban planners and designers are to make cities vital, to
enable them to impart a sense of place and time, to ensure that they fit well with human
activities, to make them accessible, controllable, and able to attract continuing investment.
With the advent of neoliberalism and globalization, global liveable ranking systems emerged
in the 1990s. These relay the views and ratings of city‐dwellers, visitors, and other
stakeholders, supplemented by secondary information. The liveability of high density cities or
districts characterized by high rises has become a major contemporary concern following the
pursuit of sustainable urban development. It is expected that two development strands, the
global aging trend and the advancement in smart technology, will impact on the future
directions of liveability research.
Though livable cities may appear as an imported Western concept in India, it fits neatly into
the intellectual traditions of India. Comparing one Asian city with another raises the problem
of complex socioeconomic structural differences The Asia and Pacific region is home to
more than 53% of the world’s total population and 44% of the world’s urban population, as
well as 17 of the world’s 33 megacities, featuring very large city-regions with more than 10
million people in Beijing, Delhi, Dhaka, Mumbai, and Shanghai. While the current
urbanization level in the region is still low, it has been experiencing a high growth rate of
urban population at 3.4% per annum since 1970. A prominent feature of this urbanization is
spatial growth of cities beyond their administrative boundaries, resulting in urban mega-
regions and city clusters. The region’s cities face challenges of substantive infrastructure
deficits, congestion and traffic, as well as significant air and water pollution. Many cities are
vulnerable to climate change impacts and disaster risks. They also face rising inequality,
lack of affordable housing, and poor capacities of urban institutions
The differences in livability between one city and another are generally minor in the scheme
of things. They are also subjective. It depends on how you live and what you value.
Still, it is interesting to look at the quality of living across Asia and figure out which is Asia’s
most livable city.
In this study , a comparision between the livability standards of Mumbai and Seoul has been
done.
source: the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index Report 2018

  MUMBAI SEOUL
 
Liveability rating (1-100, 100=Ideal) 56 86
Relative liveability index (New
65 99
York=100)
Liveability rank (out of 140 cities) 117 58

Stability EIU rating EIU rating

Prevalence of petty crime Undesirable Tolerable
Prevalence of violent crime Tolerable Acceptable
Threat of military conflict Tolerable Uncomfortable
Threat of civil unrest/conflict Tolerable Acceptable
Threat of terrorism Uncomfortable Tolerable
Stability rating (1-100, 100=Ideal) 60 80
Relative stability index (New York=100) 86 114

Healthcare EIU rating EIU rating

Availability of private healthcare Acceptable Acceptable
Quality of private healthcare provision Tolerable Acceptable
Availability of public healthcare Uncomfortable Tolerable
Quality of public healthcare provision Intolerable Tolerable
Availability of over the counter drugs Acceptable Acceptable
General healthcare indicators Intolerable Uncomfortable
Healthcare rating (1-100, 100=Ideal) 54 83
Relative healthcare index (New
59 91
York=100)

Culture & Environment EIU rating EIU rating

Climate: Humidity/Temperature rating Undesirable Tolerable
Climate: Discomfort to travellers Uncomfortable Acceptable
Cultural hardship: Corruption Undesirable Uncomfortable
Cultural hardship: Social/Religious
Uncomfortable Acceptable
restrictions
Cultural hardship: Level of censorship Tolerable Tolerable
Recreation: Sports Uncomfortable Tolerable
Recreation: Culture Uncomfortable Tolerable
Recreation: Food and drink Acceptable Acceptable
Availability of consumer goods and
Tolerable Acceptable
services
Culture & Environment rating (1-100,
54 86
100=Ideal)
Relative culture & environment index
(New
59 93

York=100)

Education EIU rating EIU rating

Availability of private education Tolerable Acceptable
Quality of private education provision Acceptable Acceptable
General public education indicators Undesirable Acceptable
Education rating (1-100, 100=Ideal) 67 100
Relative education index (New
67 100
York=100)

Infrastructure EIU rating EIU rating

Transport: Quality of road network Intolerable Tolerable
Transport: Quality of public transport Intolerable Tolerable
Transport: Quality of regional or
international
Acceptable Acceptable

links
Availability of good quality housing Uncomfortable Tolerable
Utilities: Quality of energy provision Tolerable Acceptable
Utilities: Quality of water provision Uncomfortable Acceptable
Utilities: Quality of telecommunications Tolerable Acceptable
infrastructure
Infrastructure rating (1-100, 100=Ideal) 52 89
Relative infrastructure index (New
58 100
York=100)
.
 Elements of urban form and design very important to people’s perceptions of
liveability
 Strongly associated social elements – ‘vibe’, ‘vibrancy’, ‘networks’ also important
 Both Neighbourhood scale and City scale and even regional scale important
Economic factors (housing affordability and work opportunities)
Livability means different to different people and to different urban households. In
metropolitan cities, a household’s occupation and ability to pay for basic goods and services
will dramatically impact on the kinds of public interventions that improve livability.Their view
of improved livability will surely begin with access to potable water,with the security of the
tenure for their simple shelter, with clean and private toilets and with neighborhoods free of
crime. Storm drainage, paved pathways to their shelters, street lights and solid waste
management.These are the simple and obvious livability indicators for the urban poor.
Apart from these basic livability factors, there are some urban design related factors which
play a crucial role in the smooth and of the city chaos free working of a city.
These factors are the infrastructure for Traffic and transportation, design of road network and
public transport system . better mobility and connectivity is achieved through this.Most
importantly, Walkable communities are welcomed.