Cities around the world are re-examining their urban assets and remaking themselves to enhance competitiveness. Liveability and vibrancy of the built environment are discussed increasingly on a global scale. Greater attention is given to quality of life. There is a growing body of research that suggests quality of life is becoming an increasingly important factor in modern business location decisions, especially among high technology and knowledge firms. The links between quality of life and the economic success of cities concluded that cities that are not liveable places are not likely to perform important economic functions in the future. Well-being creates vibrant cities and further amplifies the discussion on quality of life. On subjective well-being, including happiness and life satisfaction, and how this is influenced by the society and city in which a person lives among other factors. Is happiness an accident of individual attributes and attitudes? Can it be influenced by the conditions in which people live? If happiness is a desirable outcome, then what sort of city can people be happy in? What conditions should cities have in order to be conducive to happiness?
Today, urbanization is a primary characteristic of the new century, largely as a reflection of high rates of population growth in developing nations. The current rate and scale of urbanization today--much greater than that in the 20th century--poses a challenge not only for nations experiencing it but for the world community at large as policy makers and active citizens seek to upgrade living standards and increase access to jobs and services while protecting natural resources and reducing fossil-fuel consumption. Equitable societal progress and global environmental sustainability may well depend on how well fast-growing cities can respond to the needs and aspirations of new residents while enhancing the quality of life in rural areas to stabilize in-migration.
UK’s Office for National Statistics has embarked on an ambitious project to measure the country’s well being. The project, which has the blessings of British Prime Minister David Cameron, aims to understand its people’s quality of life, aside from using GDP as the sole yardstick to measure the growth of the country. David Cameron launched his "happiness index" on 25 November 2010 as he announced that the Government would measure people's quality of life as well as economic growth. While conceding that economic growth and job creation is his most urgent priority, Cameron said that GDP is not a complete way to evaluate a country’s progress and that his government wants to understand and construct on key areas that positively affect people’s well-being.The ONS has set up online and offline platforms to interact with people and organizations on the parameters and questions that could help measure the country’s progress. He said economic growth remained the most "urgent priority" but he wanted a better measure of how the country was doing than GDP.The key areas that matter most to people's well-being – such as health, levels of education, inequalities in income and the environment.
The quality of life for Malaysians improved through better access to healthcare, public transport, electricity and water. Measures were also taken to create a caring society and promote community well-being. Economic development was based on sustainability principles to ensure that the environment and natural resources are preserved so that growth will not come at a cost to future generations.In the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Government has explicitly state the commitment to ensure high quality of life in urban and rural areas. More than 10 years Malaysian Urban Indicators Network (MURNInet) implemented now Federal Department of Town and Country and Planning (FDTCP) think it is time systems and indicators are reviewed. This has arisen because many new sustainability issues and changes in national development policies that are not covered or considered during the early formation of the MURNInet. Happiness Index Study is a primary data collection - survey carried out jointly between local authorities and residents. The aspects taken into account – relationship with family, neighborhood and environmental atmosphere, the interaction between people, the safety of the population, the level of health facilities and the level of local authority services in their area.
A good physical environment provides the foundation for a well-ordered city that can cater to the material and post-material needs of its citizens—the necessary conditions, in other words, for physical and economic vibrancy. This could aid us most of the way to “well-being” in the Gallup behavioural economic model. To ascend the heights of engaged citizenship and brain gain, we also need the creative ballast that culture and arts can provide. Economic and mental vibrancy will depend not just on technological innovation and economic entrepreneurship, but also on artistic and cultural creativity. The challenge for us now is to overcome our constraints and expand the mental and cultural space that we have, so that everyone who wishes to can find something that keeps them engaged and energetic in their work and their community, and in that way create a vibrant city.
As discussed earlier, basic conditions have to be in place and material needs have to be met, i.e. the city has to have low corruption, safety and jobs. Once these conditions are well established, post-material factors become more important in predicting life satisfaction. For example, research has found that air pollution tends to decrease life satisfaction. In Germany, life satisfaction increased after measures were taken to lower air pollution levels. Another factor is commuting time; it was found that in the United States, people who had to commute an hour each way to work and back had lower levels of life satisfaction than those with shorter commuting times. A good deal of research has been done on the link between green space and happiness: green space has been found to help people relax, to reduce stress levels, and to help people concentrate better. Low noise is important, because people generally have higher life satisfaction when they can concentrate and work in peace. People also tend to look for cities with good jobs and a stimulating intellectual climate.Last but not least is social capital; where social capital is high, i.e. people trust each other, can work with each other despite coming from different cultures, are willing to volunteer and help their fellow members of their community, and are engaged in and care for the community, life satisfaction tends to be higher.
As discussed earlier, basic conditions have to be in place and material needs have to be met, i.e. the city has to have low corruption, safety and jobs. Once these conditions are well established, post-material factors become more important in predicting life satisfaction. For example, research has found that air pollution tends to decrease life satisfaction. In Germany, life satisfaction increased after measures were taken to lower air pollution levels. Another factor is commuting time; it was found that in the United States, people who had to commute an hour each way to work and back had lower levels of life satisfaction than those with shorter commuting times. A good deal of research has been done on the link between green space and happiness: green space has been found to help people relax, to reduce stress levels, and to help people concentrate better. Low noise is important, because people generally have higher life satisfaction when they can concentrate and work in peace. People also tend to look for cities with good jobs and a stimulating intellectual climate.Last but not least is social capital; where social capital is high, i.e. people trust each other, can work with each other despite coming from different cultures, are willing to volunteer and help their fellow members of their community, and are engaged in and care for the community, life satisfaction tends to be higher.
Further enquiry about this study kindly contact :
DR. DAHLIA ROSLY & DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID
Research and Development Division,
Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,
Ministry of Housing and Local Government,
Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,
No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
email address : bpp@townplan.gov.my
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