[mr.x]

Originally Posted by mrjauk

Some of you have cited the livability indexes that are also published, which, unlike globalization indexes, have Vancouver always near the top. Unfortunately, many of you still don't understand why these indexes are calculated and what factors determine a city's final score.

Why are the calculated?

To give businesses an idea of the relative difference in living standards city-to-city, so that they can compensate their executives when moving them to another city. Thus, if you have to move from London (where you're currently based) to Lagos, you will receive an increase in compensation--wages, options, benefits, etc., that is commensurate with the relative scores of Lagos and London on that survey.

Have you noticed that these rankings generally have four canadian cities--Vancouver, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto--in the top 10 or so all the time? Ever wonder why this is the case? It's because the factors that matter--such as political and social stability, crime, educational opportunities for childre--are generally countrywide factors.

These rankings are not meant to assess the general livability of the city. In other words, for households with median income levels Vancouver is not close to being the most livable city in the world. For business executives making hundreds-of-thousands of dollars a year, it is.

That may be, but livability does come with a price...obviously, it's going to be a bit more expensive to live in a place that's widely seen as beautiful, stable, and a safe haven. The slums of Kibera vs. Vancouver for instance. The Downtown Eastside vs. Coal Harbour. Vancouver vs. Surrey. Vancouver Westside vs. Vancouver Eastside.