Utility Method as an Instrument of the Quality of Life Assessment Using the Examples of Selected European Cities

Piotr Przybyłowski, Adam Przybyłowski and Agnieszka Kałaska
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Piotr Przybyłowski: Department of Quality Management, Gdynia Maritime University, 81225 Gdynia, Poland
Adam Przybyłowski: Department of Transport and Logistics, Gdynia Maritime University, 81225 Gdynia, Poland
Agnieszka Kałaska: Department of Finance and Management, WSB University in Gdańsk, 80266 Gdańsk, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Improving quality of life still remains the main goal of strategic documents and is promoted by leaders on the global, national, regional, and local levels. Moreover, this ambitious challenge should be consistent with the principles of sustainable development, including the social, economic, and environmental aspects. The ISO 37120 indicators within the World Council on City Data (WCCD) database may be used to monitor the urban performance over time. However, the interpretation of the results is not always easy and sometimes requires a complex analysis. The aim of this paper was to investigate the possibility of illustrating in a transparent way the urban quality of life using the utility method. This study also presents that this method may facilitate making data-driven decisions on urban management, planning and investment. Thus, it may be useful for decision makers and help cities and communities of all sizes to become more sustainable, safe and resilient, prosperous, inclusive, and smart. The analysis has been carried out using the examples of selected European cities: Amsterdam, Gdynia, London, and Zagreb. The hypothesis reads as follows: it is possible to use the total and partial utility method in order to assess the level of urban quality of life with regard to the three dimensions of sustainable development in order to monitor progress and results and prioritize and implement the changes within urban policy. Research results indicate that there are significant differences between the compared cities within the economic, social, and ecological aspects. This analysis may constitute an introduction to the development of more complex models in the future.

Keywords: utility method; ISO 37120 indicators; urban quality of life assessment; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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