Uploaded on 2015-10-26 by AnaVidal

1. Infraestructure 2. Safety 3. Education 4. Health care 5. Environment 2. Why do we live where we live? I live in San Salvador, El Salvador. First of all, I think the main reason I live here is because of my family, who brought us here after living a couple of years in San José, Costa Rica, where I was born. Of course, as time goes by, you make a living and even get comfortable where you are. Your family is close by (1), you have a job (2), and the education you need to keep that job (3). Currently, the main reaon I stay in this city is the accesibility to public health care (4), which I need regularly. Even though the city (and the whole country) has always been managed "the wrong way" and safety, economy, education and health (all in all, public services) do not have the quality we deserve/need, and we still have a long way to go, I strongly believe that we are the generation that is starting to make some changes (5), and that's where I work, for the academy, as a researcher in urban matters but also territorial planning. So I guess, in the end, most of my reasons for living here are definitely not related to the (great qualility of the) services the city provides as much as the ones related with personal belonging. 3. To what extend does your own place of residence fulfill your ideal livability criteria? Compared to the rest of the country, San Salvador provides plenty services, though their quality could be better, so it can be more inclusive. In the matter of fulfilling my ideal livability criteria, I would rate San Salvador with a 40, since years and years of poor managing have resulted in a constant need of adapting infraestructure (thus using lots of money, affecting the quality of other public services), and also poor choices in what is related to the environment. In general, I think we have managed to cope, via private services and the cost of informed citizenship, so we are kind of "comfortable" the way we are... So I guess a general score, and thinking about the rest of the country, would be 65. ![San Salvador in the background, picture taken from Santa Elena, a nearby municipality. In the front plain, one of the most exclusive residential areas.][1] 4. What would you change? Looking at the criteria, I came to the conclusion that they are all very related. So first of all, and since we are not working on a "blank canvas" I would change the management and political situation, so citizens can be more informed and can participate mindfully and based on a cultural, political, educational background. Only then can we can start taking informed, valid decisions on what and how to change other aspects, which are the "materialization" of those decisions (infraestructure, public services, environment, etc.) 5. Why do we move? My first choice would be Costa Rica, given that I was born there and identity related matters would be solved more easily. I think that, in Central America, that is one of the countries that fullfils my top livability criteria (infraestruture, safety, education, health care and environment). Secondly, I think I would chose Buenos Aires, Argentina, mainly because of the cultural offer and recreational possibilities. Even though I know that lately economically the city is not at its best, I think once it begins to get better is a critical moment that may provide favorable conditions in terms of housing and job opportunities. Thirdly, I would rather move to the country side some place in the EU, because I think life out of the hectic urban environment is something we all need, so I would definitely go for auto sustainability, environment, culture and safety, as well as the ease of connectivity. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14458838452606358.jpg