What makes a ‘happy city’?

Measuring and analysing the factors that affect the quality of life (QoL) in cities and regions has long been the subject of theoretical and empirical work in a wide range of fields. More recently there have been an increasing number of studies involving traditional so-called objective indicators of QoL as well as more subjective measures of well-being, drawing on the emerging new science of happiness. This article presents an overview of studies in this field and highlights the key issues and debates pertaining to measuring, analysing and theorising QoL and happiness in cities and regions. It also highlights the importance of geographical and socio-economic contextual factors pertaining to QoL, well-being and happiness with a particular emphasis on the impact of social and spatial inequalities and social justice.

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