Wellbeing: Difference between revisions

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NEWS

		California Statewide Study Investigates Causes and Impacts of Homelessness
		The University of California, San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) today released the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s, providing a comprehensive look at the causes and consequences of homelessness in California and recommending policy changes to shape programs in response.

		Championing Schools to Improve Student Family and Neighborhood Well-being
		Research consistently shows that a neighborhood’s overall well-being and localized school performance go hand in hand.

		Treasury Remarks on Digital Assets
		Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen delivered remarks on digital assets policy, innovation, and regulation at American University’s Kogod School of Business Center for Innovation.

REPORTS

		Black & Veatch’s Annual Sustainability Report 2022

		Climate Change 2022

		School Infrastructure Toolkit

		Global Synthesis Report on Local Climate Action 2022

		Smart Cities in the Age of Pandemic

		The New Map of Life Report

		Methodological guide on smart cities

Authors

Humans are social animals. From a biological perspective, humans are highly social creatures and have a strong need for social connection and interaction with others. Throughout human history, people have lived in groups and communities, and have developed a wide range of social norms and institutions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration. Even today, most people spend a significant portion of their time interacting with others, whether it be with family, friends, colleagues, or strangers. The importance of social connections for human well-being is well-documented. Research has shown that people who have strong social connections tend to be happier, live longer, and have better overall health outcomes. So it seems that, as a species, humans are hardwired to be social, and our relationships with others play a central role in our overall well-being.

Migration to Cities

More people are moving to cities around the world. One reason for this trend is that cities tend to offer a wider range of job opportunities and a more diverse and vibrant economy. Many people are attracted to cities because they offer the opportunity to work in a range of industries and pursue a variety of career paths. In addition to economic factors, cities can also offer a wider range of cultural and recreational opportunities, as well as improved access to education and other services. For many people, the amenities and conveniences that cities offer are a major draw. Another factor that may be driving the trend of people moving to cities is the availability of affordable housing. In many cities, rising housing costs have made it difficult for people to afford to live in the suburbs or rural areas, leading them to seek out more affordable options in urban areas. It is worth noting that this trend is not universal, and there are still many people who prefer to live in smaller towns or rural areas. The decision to live in a city or not will depend on an individual's personal preferences and circumstances.

Benefits

There are many potential benefits to living in a city, including:

Access to a wider range of services and amenities: Cities often have a wider range of services and amenities available, such as cultural institutions, restaurants, and entertainment options.
Greater job opportunities: Cities tend to have a more diverse and vibrant economy, which can provide more job opportunities for residents.
Improved access to education: Cities often have a larger number of educational institutions, including universities, colleges, and trade schools.
Enhanced public transportation: Cities often have more developed public transportation systems, which can make it easier for residents to get around.
Greater cultural diversity: Cities are often more diverse and cosmopolitan, which can provide a rich cultural experience for residents.
Stronger sense of community: Despite the larger population size, some people find that living in a city can provide a stronger sense of community, due to the concentration of people in a smaller area.

These are just a few examples, and the specific benefits of living in a city will depend on the individual and the city in question.

Purpose

The purpose of a city or municipality is to provide a range of services and facilities to meet the needs of its citizens. Cities and municipalities are local governments that have the power to make and enforce laws, collect taxes, and provide a range of services and facilities to their citizens.

Some common examples of the services and facilities that cities and municipalities provide include:

Public Safety: Cities and municipalities are responsible for maintaining law and order and protecting the public. This may include activities such as providing police and fire services.
Infrastructure: Cities and municipalities are responsible for maintaining and improving the infrastructure of the community, such as roads, bridges, and buildings.
Municipal Services: Cities and municipalities provide a range of services to their citizens, including things like garbage collection, water and sewage treatment, and public transportation.
Community Development: Cities and municipalities work to improve the quality of life in their communities by supporting the development of local businesses and promoting economic development, as well as by providing facilities such as parks, libraries, and community centers.

Overall, the purpose of a city or municipality is to serve as the local government for a specific community, and to work to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Technology

Technology can play a number of important roles in cities, including:

Improving Efficiency and Productivity: Technology can help cities run more efficiently by automating processes, streamlining communication, and providing access to real-time data.
Enhancing Municipal Services: Technology can be used to improve the delivery of public services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation. For example, telemedicine can bring healthcare services to underserved areas, and online education platforms can make it easier for people to access educational resources.
Enhancing Public Safety: Technology can be used to improve public safety by enabling better communication and information sharing among first responders, and by providing tools like surveillance cameras and emergency notification systems.
Promoting Economic Development: Technology can help cities attract and retain businesses by providing a modern, innovative environment that is attractive to companies and employees.
Enhancing Quality of Life: Technology can be used to improve the quality of life for city residents by providing access to amenities like WiFi hotspots, online entertainment, and other digital services.

Overall, the role of technology in cities is to help them function more efficiently, effectively, and equitably, and to create a better quality of life for all residents.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | sectors = Wellbeing
 | authors = Stan Curtis, Wilfred Pinfold
-| poc = Stan Curtis
+| poc = Wilfred Pinfold
-| email = stan.curtis@urban.systems
+| email = wilfred.pinfold@opencommons.org
 | document = Under_Development.pdf
 | chapter = 900
-| image = WellbeingChapter.png
+| image = Aincient Athens.jpg
-| summary = Wellbeing refers to a state of being happy, healthy, and comfortable in one's life. It encompasses a range of physical, mental, and emotional factors, and can be influenced by a variety of factors such as genetics, environment, and personal choices.
+| summary = Humans are social animals. From a biological perspective, humans are highly social creatures and have a strong need for social connection and interaction with others. Throughout human history, people have lived in groups and communities, and have developed a wide range of social norms and institutions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration. Even today, most people spend a significant portion of their time interacting with others, whether it be with family, friends, colleagues, or strangers. The importance of social connections for human well-being is well-documented. Research has shown that people who have strong social connections tend to be happier, live longer, and have better overall health outcomes. So it seems that, as a species, humans are hardwired to be social, and our relationships with others play a central role in our overall well-being.
-}}
+}}__NOTOC__
-Physical well-being includes elements such as having enough energy, feeling good in one's body, and being free from illness or injury. Mental well-being includes elements such as having a positive outlook, feeling able to cope with stress, and having a sense of purpose or meaning in life. Emotional well-being includes elements such as feeling content and satisfied, and having supportive and positive relationships.
+==Migration to Cities==
+More people are moving to cities around the world. One reason for this trend is that cities tend to offer a wider range of job opportunities and a more diverse and vibrant economy. Many people are attracted to cities because they offer the opportunity to work in a range of industries and pursue a variety of career paths. In addition to economic factors, cities can also offer a wider range of cultural and recreational opportunities, as well as improved access to education and other services. For many people, the amenities and conveniences that cities offer are a major draw. Another factor that may be driving the trend of people moving to cities is the availability of affordable housing. In many cities, rising housing costs have made it difficult for people to afford to live in the suburbs or rural areas, leading them to seek out more affordable options in urban areas. It is worth noting that this trend is not universal, and there are still many people who prefer to live in smaller towns or rural areas. The decision to live in a city or not will depend on an individual's personal preferences and circumstances.
+==Benefits==
+There are many potential benefits to living in a city, including:
+*'''Access to a wider range of services and amenities''': Cities often have a wider range of services and amenities available, such as cultural institutions, restaurants, and entertainment options.
+*'''Greater job opportunities''': Cities tend to have a more diverse and vibrant economy, which can provide more job opportunities for residents.
+*'''Improved access to education''': Cities often have a larger number of educational institutions, including universities, colleges, and trade schools.
+*'''Enhanced public transportation''': Cities often have more developed public transportation systems, which can make it easier for residents to get around.
+*'''Greater cultural diversity''': Cities are often more diverse and cosmopolitan, which can provide a rich cultural experience for residents.
+*'''Stronger sense of community''': Despite the larger population size, some people find that living in a city can provide a stronger sense of community, due to the concentration of people in a smaller area.
-Overall, well-being is a multi-faceted concept that includes many different aspects of a person's life. It can be influenced by a variety of factors including the physical environment, social support, work-life balance, and personal choices. People can work on improving their well-being by making healthy choices, staying active and engaged, and by seeking support when needed.
+These are just a few examples, and the specific benefits of living in a city will depend on the individual and the city in question.
-==Measurement==
+==Purpose==
-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a measure of a country's economic activity and performance. It is calculated by adding up the value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time, usually a year.
+The purpose of a city or municipality is to provide a range of services and facilities to meet the needs of its citizens. Cities and municipalities are local governments that have the power to make and enforce laws, collect taxes, and provide a range of services and facilities to their citizens.
-;Strengths of GDP include:
-*It is widely used and understood, making it easy to compare economic performance between countries.
-*It provides a single number that can be used as an overall indicator of a country's economic health.
-;Weaknesses of GDP include:
-*It only measures economic activity that is monetized, and does not take into account non-market activities such as unpaid work (e.g. caring for children or elderly) or black market activities.
-*It does not measure the distribution of income or the well-being of citizens.
-*It does not account for negative externalities such as pollution or resource depletion.
-There are a number of efforts to address these weaknesses.
-''"In order to allow analysis of a wide range of ethical decision problems, any version of a coherent individualistic ethical decision theory requires some ideal index indicating the ethical value of each individual’s life. It seems reasonable that this index should be related to wellbeing. In fact the values involved in determining well-being might still form part of an ideal value index, but only after they have been suitably repackaged. But it would appear that a satisfactory ethical value index must transcend any of the commonly accepted notions of wellbeing"''. Peter J. Hammond, Department of Economics, Stanford University
+Some common examples of the services and facilities that cities and municipalities provide include:
-==Circular Economy==
-The circular economy is an economic model that aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible and to minimize waste and pollution. It is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. The circular economy is in contrast to the traditional linear economy, which is based on the “take-make-use-dispose” model, where resources are extracted, used to make products, consumed, and then discarded as waste.
-The circular economy addresses the negative externalities of the economy by reducing the use of natural resources, decreasing waste and pollution, and increasing the efficiency of resource use. The key principles of the circular economy include:
+*'''[[Public Safety]]''': Cities and municipalities are responsible for maintaining law and order and protecting the public. This may include activities such as providing police and fire services.
-*Designing products and systems to be easily disassembled, repaired, refurbished, and recycled
+*'''[[Infrastructure]]''': Cities and municipalities are responsible for maintaining and improving the infrastructure of the community, such as roads, bridges, and buildings.
-*Maximizing the use of renewable energy and minimizing the use of fossil fuels
+*'''[[Municipal Services]]''': Cities and municipalities provide a range of services to their citizens, including things like garbage collection, water and sewage treatment, and public transportation.
-*Using digital technologies to enable the circular economy, such as the use of digital twins, digital platforms, and blockchain to improve the tracking and management of resources
+*'''[[Community Development]]''': Cities and municipalities work to improve the quality of life in their communities by supporting the development of local businesses and promoting economic development, as well as by providing facilities such as parks, libraries, and community centers.
-*Investing in circular business models and infrastructure, such as shared assets and circular supply chains, to improve the flow of resources
-*Encouraging collaboration and co-creation across the value chain to build circular business models and infrastructure
-By following these principles, the circular economy aims to create a more sustainable and resilient economic system that benefits both the environment and the economy.
-[[File:Universal circular economy policy goals_Jan2021.pdf|250px|Universal circular economy policy goals]] [[File:AMS-portrait.pdf|250px|A Tool for Transformative Change]] [[File:A Doughnut for the Anthropocene.pdf|250px|A Doughnut for the Anthropocene]]
+Overall, the purpose of a city or municipality is to serve as the local government for a specific community, and to work to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
+==Technology==
+Technology can play a number of important roles in cities, including:
-==Doughnut Economics==
+*'''Improving [[Efficiency and Productivity]]''': Technology can help cities run more efficiently by automating processes, streamlining communication, and providing access to real-time data.
-Doughnut economics is a framework developed by economist Kate Raworth that aims to balance economic, social, and environmental well-being within the boundaries of the planet. It is based on the idea that economies should operate within the "doughnut-shaped" space between the "social foundation" and the "ecological ceiling." The social foundation represents the minimum standards of well-being that every person should have access to, such as adequate food, housing, and healthcare. The ecological ceiling represents the maximum level of environmental degradation that the planet can sustain.
+*'''Enhancing [[Municipal Services]]''': Technology can be used to improve the delivery of public services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation. For example, telemedicine can bring healthcare services to underserved areas, and online education platforms can make it easier for people to access educational resources.
+*'''Enhancing [[Public Safety]]''': Technology can be used to improve public safety by enabling better communication and information sharing among first responders, and by providing tools like surveillance cameras and emergency notification systems.
+*'''Promoting [[Economic Development]]''': Technology can help cities attract and retain businesses by providing a modern, innovative environment that is attractive to companies and employees.
+*'''Enhancing [[Quality of Life]]''': Technology can be used to improve the quality of life for city residents by providing access to amenities like WiFi hotspots, online entertainment, and other digital services.
-[[Media:2409-ArticleText-3132-1-10-20200408.pdf|Doughnut Economics]] addresses the weaknesses of GDP by providing a holistic view of well-being that goes beyond economic growth. It focuses on meeting the needs of all people within the means of the planet, and it takes into account the social and environmental factors that GDP does not.
+Overall, the role of technology in cities is to help them function more efficiently, effectively, and equitably, and to create a better quality of life for all residents.
-Some of the ways it addresses the weaknesses of GDP include:
-*It includes social foundations such as, living wages, basic health care, education and access to political voice
-*It includes ecological boundaries such as, air quality, water and biodiversity, as well as climate change
-*It emphasizes on the need of regenerative economy,
-*It calls for a shift in the economic systems to prioritize the well-being of people and the planet over economic growth
-Doughnut economics is seen as a way to create a more sustainable and equitable economic system. It highlights the need to rethink our economic goals and to prioritize the well-being of people and the planet over economic growth.
-[[File:Creating-City-Portraits-Methodology.pdf|200px|City Portraits]] [[File:C40 Cities and Mayors Migration Council (2021) Cities, Climate and Migration - The role of cities at the climate-migration nexus.pdf|200px|Cities, Climate and Mitigation]]