Reference no: EM132429215

Case Study

Cities and Communities: Quality of Life Indicators

Background for the Assignment

• Social demographers, social/medical epidemiologists, urban sociologists, politicians, and other researchers have long had a concern the structure, function, current state and viability of urban spaces. One way such researchers have examined urban spaces is to gather data (or review data) based on the application of local quality of life indicators.

• Local quality of life indicators evolved from economic indicators and social indicators, and can be divided into two types: objective indicators and subjective indicators. Objective indicators measure actual events such as the occurrence of crime, unemployment rate; subjective indicators measure attitudes about events (e.g., such as crime).

• Local quality of life indicators can be used as a method for: (1) describing the current state of an urban space; (2) evaluating the current state of the urban space; and (3) prescribing changes for local conditions that are determined to be detrimental to residents of the urban space.

Instructions: The Required City and Country is Kingston, Jamaica

• In order to complete this assignment, you are required to select a city in a developing or developed country (Which is going to be Kingston, Jamaica)and analyze the geographical space based on select local quality of life indicators. There are seven categories of quality of life indicators and a "General Population Demographics" category, which is mandatory. In addition to describing the population demographics of the city, select three categories of quality of life indicators and conduct research to answer the questions for each category. The list of questions is intended as a guide. Some questions will be more easily answered than others. Locate sources for as many indicators as you can that provide a comprehensive assessment for that quality of life dimension.

• Your tasks will be to answer questions based on the indicators that you have selected. Next, based on your research, (1) describe the current state of the city; (2) evaluate the current state of the city; and (3) prescribe changes for local conditions that are determined to be detrimental to residents of the city.

• This assignment will require you to be resourceful in order to gather data to complete the assignment. You may have to gather data (via the Internet) from a variety of sources, including local planning agencies, political and economic institutions, health/medical institutions, financial institutions. Be sure to use the proper citations and format when documenting your sources.

Select Quality of Life Indicators

Instructions:

• When completing this assignment, please consider the following questions to answer based on each indicator.

Required

• General Population Demographics (mandatory for assignment)

(1) What is the total population of the city?
(2) What is the breakdown of the population based on race/ethnicity, gender, and age.

Then select 3 of the following 9 "Quality of Life" indicators:

• Education

(1) What is the literacy rate of the population?
(2) How many citizens obtained a high school diploma? Attended college? Earned at least one academic degree?
(3) What is the percentage of high school graduates accepted into college?
(4) What is country's educational ranking (e.g., in terms mathematics, science, knowledge of history or geography).
(5) What are the costs associated with education (e.g., cost per pupil, facility modernization, average pay for teachers and staff)
(6) What are some salient problems of the educational institution (e.g., dropout rate; school violence, teachers leaving the profession)

• Economics/ Employment

(1) What is the annual average income for workers?
(2) What are the bases of the economy (i.e., service, technology, manufacturing, information, finance)
(3) What is the unemployment rate? (generally and by specific categories of potential workers)
(4) Who are the major employers in the city?
(5) Has the locality been affected by the closing of a major employer or the addition of a large employer?

• Type of Governance/Public Service Delivery

(1) What type of local government structure exist in the city (e.g., manager-council; mayor and council)
(2) How many complaints have been filed against a local agency or local government.
(3) Are there problems with the service delivery of the municipality?
(4) Are there proposals to improve or change public service delivery?
(5) What are the names of prominent elected officials?

• Health/Well Being

(1) How many hospitals exist in the city?
(2) How many citizens have attempted or committed suicide?
(3) What are the morbidity and mortality rates of residents? What is the fertility rate?
(4) Is there a problem with the un-insured (e.g., access to health care and related services).

• Housing

(1) What is the average age of the housing stock in the city?
(2) What is the median assessed value of single family homes in the city?
(3) What is the vacancy rate of an area due to abandonment or vacancy?
(4) Are there major housing construction projects being implemented?

• Personal Income

(1) How is income distributed? (e.g., percentage of workers in a particular economic class)
(2) What is the average gross income of workers/residents in the city?
(3) Have there been any recent changes in either Question 1 and/or Question 2?

• Transportation

(1) How many traffic accidents have occurred based on sample of the population?
(2) How many modes of transportation are available to residents of the city?
(3) Is funding for transportation aided by toll roads, gasoline taxes?
(4) Are there major transportation construction projects being considered in the present or future?

• Public Safety, Crime and Justice

(1) What are the types of crimes which occurred?
(2) What is the size of the local law enforcement agency?
(3) Are local judges elected or appointed to the bench?
(4) What type of court systems exist in the municipality?
(5) What is the incarceration rate?

• Land Use/Recreation

(1) How many parks are located in the city?
(2) How many golf courses are located in the city?
(3) How many miles of trails are located in the city?
(4) Are local sports teams located in the city?
(5) Are local/major sporting events held in the city?