Description
Book SynopsisThis unique and insightful work examines the importance of 'quality of life' for the city which has become a key component of urban competitiveness over the past 30 years. It argues that having a high or low 'quality of life' will have important consequences for the vitality and status of any city.
Throughout the book, emphasis is placed upon the skilled, highly mobile and generally younger labour force who choose the city in which they want to work and live based on the 'quality of life' elements offered to them. Consequently, there is mounting pressure on today's cities and the firms in their economies to create environments that are attractive to the new-age of the workforce and the key resource in the economy. The book's eight substantive chapters explore this issue by each examining a distinct element that comprises 'quality of life', including the approach of economists to quality of life, links to urban competitiveness, the economy, urban amenities and attributes.
Providing an original perspective on contemporary cities and their economies, The City and Quality of Life will be essential reading for city and company leaders who implement policy and wish to further understand the attributes of 'quality of life' for their citizens. It will also be useful for researchers, university professors and students in disciplines such as economics and finance, geography and urban studies.
Trade Review‘
The City and Quality of Life
covers a wide-ranging body of literature and ideas, many of which could be hypotheses suitable for further testing. The book could be useful for those students, academic researchers, and policy makers interested in urban studies and the promise of cities in a rapidly urbanizing world.’ -- Robert W Marans, Journal of Urban Affairs
‘The City and Quality of Life
marked a significant reorientation of economic research about the quality of life of a city. It reflects Kresl’s outstanding knowledge of urban economics developed throughout a distinguished career. This book speaks to a wide readership in social sciences beyond disciplinary confines, and without doubt provides a stimulus for further critical debate about quality of life in contemporary cities.’ -- Alessandra Michelangeli, Regional Studies
'In an era of pandemics and economic turbulence, remote working and learning, and significant shifts in both international and domestic migration patterns, Peter Karl Kresl has provided a timely and at times provocative treatise on cities and the quality of life that they provide in a world undergoing unprecedented urbanization. This very readable text should be required reading for professional planners and many of the people who find themselves navigating on a daily basis both the wondrous joys and vexing challenges of contemporary city life.' -- Earl H. Fry, BYU Emeritus Professor and co-director of the New International Cities Era project
'Under the challenge of global and regional economic restructuring, cities have to achieve high quality of life to attract skilled people and companies in the evolving new economy. This book is a systematic study on the concept of quality of life, its impacts on urban economy, and how demographics, urban attributes and amenities affect the quality of life. This is a timely book for urban scholars and city leaders to understand and enhance the quality of life and urban competitiveness.' -- Jianfa Shen, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Table of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction: the importance of the quality of urban life 2. Contemporary analysis of quality of life 3. Quality of life and competitiveness 4. Quality of life and the economy 5. Demographics and quality of life 6. Urban attributes and quality of life 7. Urban amenities and quality of life 8. Looking forward Index
