Uploaded on 2017-01-05 by HeikeLob

Step 1: List the five most liveable cities that you know, based on your own experience and judgment, placing the most liveable city at the top of the list. 1. Frankfurt 2. Duesseldorf 3. Barcelona 4. Koeln 5. Chicago Step 2: Describe in your own words five characteristics that according to your opinion make a city liveable. Order them placing the most important at the top of the list. * 1. Infrastructure – broadly defined as the access to a network of: o Public transportation, education, healthcare, energy, water o international connection o communication 2. Safety 3. Political & economic stability 4. Climate and natural recreation access 5. Cultural & social environment Step 3: Describe the status of your own city in terms of the five characteristics that you listed above. Propose how your city should/could be transformed in relation to these characteristics in order to be more sustainable. I am currently living in Chicago. Based on the mentioned characteristics I would rate the city quite high in terms of the infrastructure as Chicago offers a good public transportation system, medical network, and a stable water and energy supply. Also the international connection is good as Chicago has one of the largest airports in the United States. Also the communication network is good. The main area for improvement regarding the infrastructure topic is the public education system. The city should try to collect ore funds for public schools to avoid the division of the population and overcome educational advantages based on social and economic background (high income families can afford to live close to better public schools or even pay for private schools) Safety is a critical point as the city is divided into rather safe and dangerous areas.The city should try to control crime by controlling weapons. Political and economic stability is ok compared to other regions in the country. Any political instability coming up on 2017 will have impact on the country as a whole (new president elected) Climate and natural recreation access is quite good as Chicago is located at Lake Michigan providing easy access to natural recreation. The climate is extreme (hot in summer and cold in winter) but rather dry and therefore comfortable. Chicago offers a great variety of cultural events and is a very multicultural city. Most improvements need to be made regarding overcoming the huge division between the poor and the rich within the city. The share of middle class people is decreasing and moving in the suburbs and into so called Chicagoland.