Pittsburgh is not only the country’s most livable city, but it stands up in the global litmus test of greatness as well. The Economist magazine’s May edition ranks Pittsburgh among the world’s Top 50 most globally livable cities, coming in at number 26.
In an article entitled “The reinvention test,” The Economist explains that durable cities possess an ability to reinvent themselves through good government and a flourishiing economy. While a city may rise and fall in march of time, the quality of life may be maintained simply by being a pleasant place to live and work, with safe streets, affordable housing, and good sanitation operations.
"From 'Places Rated' to 'The Economist,' these aren't rankings, they're realities,” says Bill Flanagan, executive vice president of Allegheny Conference. “With a low cost of living, one of the shortest commutes among major metros, and a smart, growing workforce, the Pittsburgh region offers the ideal balance between work and life. It's terrific to see that publishers and journalists worldwide are taking notice.”
Pittsburgh came in alongside several other global cities, including neighboring Cleveland, the only other American city that ranked as high. It outranked 10 other American cities, from Honolulu to Boston, Seattle, and Chicago.
The list was developed by a consulting firm that ranks cities each year based on 40 factors in 10 catagories: political, economic, cultural, medical, educational, public-service, recreational, consumer-goods, housing, and environmental.
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Tne Economist, Bill Flanagan, Allegheny Conference