15 March 2005

^{AMSTERDAM - Crime, pollution and traffic congestion kept Paris at a modest 31st place in a survey released this week ranking the quality of life among the world's biggest cities.}

^{But the French capital still bettered London, Madrid and Barcelona in the survey carried out by the Human Resources division of the American business consultancy agency Mercer, which placed the Swiss cities of Geneva and Zurich the most desirable for overall quality of life.}

The independent poll was based on 39 categories of living standards, including health, education, public services housing and economic and environmental issues.

But Paris has edged up one place on Mercer's 2004 survey, scoring level ranking with the Norwegian capital Oslo and the Australian city Brisbane. The only other French city in the top 50 was Lyon, in 36th slot.

All cities are judged against base city New York with 100 points and which was awarded a joint 39th position with London.

"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," said Mercer senior researcher Slagin Parakatil.

But he commented that the 5/10 rating scored by Paris for traffic congestion was "really low."

German cities faired better, with Munich and Düsseldorf moving up to join Frankfurt in joint fifth position.

Mercer ranked the Iraqi capital Baghdad as the worst place to live while it found Luxembourg was the city offering 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.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: French news