In the bi-annual survey of 215 of the world’s leading cities conducted by William M. Mercer, Geneva is rated at position number four. Another Swiss city, Zürich, is also in the top ten at position number two.

Geneva continues to score high in many international city surveys as a business location. To understand why, please check out ‘International Comparisons’, the annual compendium produced by the Economic Promotion of Geneva.

The Mercer survey

The aim of Mercer's survey is to provide an objective, consistent, and comprehensive evaluation of the differences in quality of living in any two cities. Governments and major companies worldwide use the information to determine appropriate allowances that reflect differences in the quality of living for personnel transferred abroad. The study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of living determinants, grouped in the following categories:

- 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 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 servicesetc)

- Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

Mercer's quality of living reports aim to overcome the weaknesses of traditional "hardship comparisons" which are often viewed from a national perspective and rarely take proper account of the positive features of the cities being compared. Assessment factors reflect the criteria which international executives feel are the standards by which cities should be compared. In order to be considered as a valid criterion, each factor must be neutral and objective (not biased from a national perspective), quantifiable and comparable, and relevant to all expatriates regardless of seniority or job type.

Mercer's approach therefore compares factors which are basic concerns for all, and avoids national and cultural differences, avoiding the weaknesses of those comparisons biased towards an American, European or Asian standard.

The above is an extract from Mercer press release