Quality of Life in Geneva, 2006

When it comes to quality of life, Geneva is #2 (snicker). According to a survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Geneva ranks just behind Zurich for the world's top city for quality of living. The study evaluated 250+ cities on several criteria:

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc.)
  
• Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc.)
  
• Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc.)
  
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc.)
  
• Schools and education (standard and availability of schools, etc.)
  
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc.)
  
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc.)
  
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc.)
  
• Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc.)
  
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

I've submitted criteria recommendations for next year's study including:

• Ease of laundry machine use
  
• Shopping past 8pm
  
• Prevalence of air conditioning
  
• Square feet of graffiti per citizen
  
• Cigarette consumption (in packs / hour)
  
• Prevalence of female armpit hair
  
• Prevalence of males in Speedos
  
• Street-side dog poo (in kilograms / citizen)

Read the Mercer report here.