For such a “new” country, Australia has been ranked amongst the worlds best. Strength as an economic power was proven during the Global Financial Crisis, with many on this isolated island wondering at the immensity of the economic ruin faced by major powers still to this day.
While the reasoning behind this country’s safe passage through such a catastrophic global event has been debated, with credit placed in both valid and invalid locations, there can be no questioning the importance of our strong industry involvement in keeping the economy afloat.
Adding to solid economic growth, strongly enabled by the West’s major mining boom, four Australian cities have been ranked top ten in this years Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) global liveability report. Topping the list, and breaking the eight-year reign of Vancouver, Canada is Melbourne, with Sydney following in sixth place, and Perth and Adelaide tied at eighth.
The report uses a number of criteria in order to differentiate between the 140 vying countries.
“The Liveability Ranking and Overview assesses living conditions in 140 cities around the world. A rating of relative comfort for 30 indicators is assigned across five broad categories: stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure. The survey gives an overall rating of 0-100, where 1 is intolerable and 100 is ideal,” the EIU report.
This is an incredible promotion of Australia, its lifestyle and economy, with EIU representatives citing low density and low crime rates as the catalyst for this year’s winners.
While critics have slammed the report as being biased and discredited, overwhelmingly support has been received by the winning city, especially when considering its place in the current global climate.
The reality of the situation is that Europe’s economic melting pot has impacted heavily on this years rating system, pushing Australia up in the liveability stakes.
This livability comes at a price.
Although gauged as the world’s most liveable cities, further reportage shows a direct correlation between standard of living and the cost of living, with Sydney being ranked as the 7th most expensive city in the world. Melbourne and Sydney both have some of the highest global median house prices, these numbers dominating critics’ reports.
There was further discussion about Melbourne’s notoriously criticised public transport infrastructure, but it appears in comparison to the rest of the world, the Victorian city is the place to be.
Dropping to the bottom of the list was Bangladesh’s Dhaka and Harare Zimbabwe due to high crime rates and low living standards.
Whether credible or otherwise, this global honour bestowed upon Melbourne, as well as Australia as a whole, is at the very least, a fantastic promotion of an industry that is the pillar of this country.
