Amsterdam slips
Mar 16th 2005 | 2:40 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Amsterdam slips
Amsterdam slips down to
12th in best city rankings
15 March 2005
AMSTERDAM  The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
in.
The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
"Nothing has changed about Amsterdam; it is just that other countries
have moved up the rankings, 12th is a good position to be in," a
senior researcher at Mercer, Slagin Parakatil, said.
"What let the Amsterdam down is its air pollution, although compared
to other
cities it is relatively low. And its crime figures, scoring only eight
out if ten in this area."
The survey is based on 39 categories for the standard of living, some
of which include health, education, public services and
transportation, recreation and housing as well as economic and
environmental issues.
Factors such as traffic congestion, number and performance of schools
available, levels of pollution and the standards of sanitation are all
taken into consideration.
All cities are judged against base city New York which has 100 points
and ranks 39th overall.
Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland retain joint first position for the
overall best quality of life.
Europe, particularly Germany, continues to perform well in the survey.
The city of Munich moved from 10th position and Düsseldorf from 12th
position to join Frankfurt in joint fifth.
Munich climbed as a result of improving its waste removal systems and
housing facilities for expats. Düsseldorf improved their schooling
facilities, scoring 10/10, and housing scored 9/10.
Other key European cities were at the lower end of the rankings.
London dropped three places to joint 39th with New York and Kobe,
because of its high rates of petty crime. Paris ranked 31st due to
crime rates, pollution and traffic congestion.
Milan dropped out of the top 50, while Rome has failed to make it
there at all. Madrid moved down three and Barcelona up three places to
share joint 42nd, let down by their levels of air pollution.
The Iraqi city of Baghdad holds on to its unenvied position as the
worst place to live due to the ongoing state of unrest in the country
and constant threat of attacks. Luxembourg, in contrast, is the city
with the highest level of personal safety.
"The top ranking cities for personal safety and security are in
politically stable countries with good international relations and
sustainable growth," Parakatil said.
Cities on the African continent also performed poorly with Brazzaville
in Congo scoring just 29.5 points and Bangui in the Central African
Republic scoring 29.
Canadian cities are performing well with the highest safety rankings
in North America and Calgary continuing to be the healthiest city in
the survey.
The Greek capital Athens remains the unhealthiest city due to
pollution and continuing problems with sanitation.
American cities are still sliding slowly after last year's slump, a
result of tighter immigration laws which was making life harder for
expats. "Increased security checks on arrivals and departures from the
country can be very time-consuming for expatriates," the survey said
in 2004.
"Cities in the top 50 are generally happy with their positions. Moving
a couple of ranks up or down doesn't really have any significance,
most cities move down as others improve," Parakatil said.
"Those cities outside the top 50 want to know what it is they are
doing wrong and how to improve," he said.
[Copyright Expatica 2005]
--
Martin
12th in best city rankings
15 March 2005
AMSTERDAM  The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
in.
The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
"Nothing has changed about Amsterdam; it is just that other countries
have moved up the rankings, 12th is a good position to be in," a
senior researcher at Mercer, Slagin Parakatil, said.
"What let the Amsterdam down is its air pollution, although compared
to other
cities it is relatively low. And its crime figures, scoring only eight
out if ten in this area."
The survey is based on 39 categories for the standard of living, some
of which include health, education, public services and
transportation, recreation and housing as well as economic and
environmental issues.
Factors such as traffic congestion, number and performance of schools
available, levels of pollution and the standards of sanitation are all
taken into consideration.
All cities are judged against base city New York which has 100 points
and ranks 39th overall.
Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland retain joint first position for the
overall best quality of life.
Europe, particularly Germany, continues to perform well in the survey.
The city of Munich moved from 10th position and Düsseldorf from 12th
position to join Frankfurt in joint fifth.
Munich climbed as a result of improving its waste removal systems and
housing facilities for expats. Düsseldorf improved their schooling
facilities, scoring 10/10, and housing scored 9/10.
Other key European cities were at the lower end of the rankings.
London dropped three places to joint 39th with New York and Kobe,
because of its high rates of petty crime. Paris ranked 31st due to
crime rates, pollution and traffic congestion.
Milan dropped out of the top 50, while Rome has failed to make it
there at all. Madrid moved down three and Barcelona up three places to
share joint 42nd, let down by their levels of air pollution.
The Iraqi city of Baghdad holds on to its unenvied position as the
worst place to live due to the ongoing state of unrest in the country
and constant threat of attacks. Luxembourg, in contrast, is the city
with the highest level of personal safety.
"The top ranking cities for personal safety and security are in
politically stable countries with good international relations and
sustainable growth," Parakatil said.
Cities on the African continent also performed poorly with Brazzaville
in Congo scoring just 29.5 points and Bangui in the Central African
Republic scoring 29.
Canadian cities are performing well with the highest safety rankings
in North America and Calgary continuing to be the healthiest city in
the survey.
The Greek capital Athens remains the unhealthiest city due to
pollution and continuing problems with sanitation.
American cities are still sliding slowly after last year's slump, a
result of tighter immigration laws which was making life harder for
expats. "Increased security checks on arrivals and departures from the
country can be very time-consuming for expatriates," the survey said
in 2004.
"Cities in the top 50 are generally happy with their positions. Moving
a couple of ranks up or down doesn't really have any significance,
most cities move down as others improve," Parakatil said.
"Those cities outside the top 50 want to know what it is they are
doing wrong and how to improve," he said.
[Copyright Expatica 2005]
--
Martin
Mar 16th 2005 | 4:40 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Amsterdam slips
On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:40:17 +0100, nitram <[email protected]> wrote:
>Amsterdam slips down to
>12th in best city rankings
>
>15 March 2005
>AMSTERDAM — The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
>positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
>in.
>The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
>which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
>The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
>again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
I've seen this article quoted in various sources and nowhere do they
ever mention the basis for this evaluation. If you go to the Mercer
HRC web page, you will see that this index is used to calculate
hardship allowances for expatriate employees. Many factors are
considered that have nothing to do with quality of life for permanent
residents of the city, for instance, to quote Mercer, "expat housing"
and "international schools". Also to quote them,
"Quality of Living vs. the quality of life
"The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to
judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A
city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but
it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want
to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, or New
York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But
that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.
"What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be
quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of
Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city
on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of
one's life to those living it!"
I see that the only Italian city to make the top 50 is Milan. I think
DFM might contest that. But they probably have great international
schools.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
>Amsterdam slips down to
>12th in best city rankings
>
>15 March 2005
>AMSTERDAM — The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
>positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
>in.
>The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
>which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
>The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
>again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
I've seen this article quoted in various sources and nowhere do they
ever mention the basis for this evaluation. If you go to the Mercer
HRC web page, you will see that this index is used to calculate
hardship allowances for expatriate employees. Many factors are
considered that have nothing to do with quality of life for permanent
residents of the city, for instance, to quote Mercer, "expat housing"
and "international schools". Also to quote them,
"Quality of Living vs. the quality of life
"The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to
judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A
city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but
it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want
to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, or New
York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But
that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.
"What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be
quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of
Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city
on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of
one's life to those living it!"
I see that the only Italian city to make the top 50 is Milan. I think
DFM might contest that. But they probably have great international
schools.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Mar 16th 2005 | 10:13 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Amsterdam slips
In article <[email protected]>, B Vaughan
<[email protected]> wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:40:17 +0100, nitram <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Amsterdam slips down to
> >12th in best city rankings
> >
> >
> >15 March 2005
> >
> >AMSTERDAM ÷ The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
> >positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
> >in.
> >
> >The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
> >which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
> >
> >The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
> >again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
>
> I've seen this article quoted in various sources and nowhere do they
> ever mention the basis for this evaluation. If you go to the Mercer
> HRC web page, you will see that this index is used to calculate
> hardship allowances for expatriate employees. Many factors are
> considered that have nothing to do with quality of life for permanent
> residents of the city, for instance, to quote Mercer, "expat housing"
> and "international schools". Also to quote them,
How about weather, that was what stood out for me.
jay
Wed Mar 16, 2005
mailto:[email protected]
>
> "Quality of Living vs. the quality of life
>
> "The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to
> judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A
> city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but
> it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want
> to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, or New
> York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But
> that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.
>
> "What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be
> quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of
> Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city
> on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of
> one's life to those living it!"
>
> I see that the only Italian city to make the top 50 is Milan. I think
> DFM might contest that. But they probably have great international
> schools.
<[email protected]> wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:40:17 +0100, nitram <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Amsterdam slips down to
> >12th in best city rankings
> >
> >
> >15 March 2005
> >
> >AMSTERDAM ÷ The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has slipped down two
> >positions to 12th in the rankings of the top 50 best cities to live
> >in.
> >
> >The slip may be a result of the ongoing traffic problems in Amsterdam
> >which were cited by news agency ANP after last year's survey.
> >
> >The Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2005 quality of life survey once
> >again listed Amsterdam as the only Dutch city in the top 50.
>
> I've seen this article quoted in various sources and nowhere do they
> ever mention the basis for this evaluation. If you go to the Mercer
> HRC web page, you will see that this index is used to calculate
> hardship allowances for expatriate employees. Many factors are
> considered that have nothing to do with quality of life for permanent
> residents of the city, for instance, to quote Mercer, "expat housing"
> and "international schools". Also to quote them,
How about weather, that was what stood out for me.
jay
Wed Mar 16, 2005
mailto:[email protected]
>
> "Quality of Living vs. the quality of life
>
> "The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to
> judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A
> city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but
> it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want
> to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, or New
> York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But
> that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.
>
> "What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be
> quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of
> Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city
> on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of
> one's life to those living it!"
>
> I see that the only Italian city to make the top 50 is Milan. I think
> DFM might contest that. But they probably have great international
> schools.
Mar 17th 2005 | 12:56 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Amsterdam slips
On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:13:55 -0800, Go Fig <[email protected]> wrote:
>How about weather, that was what stood out for me.
Force 7 today small birds flying backwards. Horizontal rain later,
free sand blasting on the boulevard all day.
--
Martin
>How about weather, that was what stood out for me.
Force 7 today small birds flying backwards. Horizontal rain later,
free sand blasting on the boulevard all day.
--
Martin
Mar 27th 2005 | 5:35 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Amsterdam slips
If you go to Amsterdam and are interested in the Red Light District you
ought to mail [email protected] and ask for the guide their guide
to the city. They have some great walking tour and insights that will
change your trip completely. To put it short the theme oriented travel
guides from redlightplanet.net are covering light districts and
associated categories of entertainment around and the world. Aim of the
guides is to provide hedonists with the same value guidance as Lonely
Planet offers independent travellers. Great reading for everybody.
David
ought to mail [email protected] and ask for the guide their guide
to the city. They have some great walking tour and insights that will
change your trip completely. To put it short the theme oriented travel
guides from redlightplanet.net are covering light districts and
associated categories of entertainment around and the world. Aim of the
guides is to provide hedonists with the same value guidance as Lonely
Planet offers independent travellers. Great reading for everybody.
David
Mar 27th 2005 | 5:36 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Amsterdam slips
If you go to Amsterdam and are interested in the Red Light District you
ought to mail [email protected] and ask for the guide their guide
to the city. They have some great walking tour and insights that will
change your trip completely. To put it short the theme oriented travel
guides from redlightplanet.net are covering light districts and
associated categories of entertainment around and the world. Aim of the
guides is to provide hedonists with the same value guidance as Lonely
Planet offers independent travellers. Great reading for everybody.
David
ought to mail [email protected] and ask for the guide their guide
to the city. They have some great walking tour and insights that will
change your trip completely. To put it short the theme oriented travel
guides from redlightplanet.net are covering light districts and
associated categories of entertainment around and the world. Aim of the
guides is to provide hedonists with the same value guidance as Lonely
Planet offers independent travellers. Great reading for everybody.
David
