Healthy Cities

Are cities creating or attracting healthy individuals?  

Causality and selection urban health

Where we live affects nearly all aspects of our lives, including work, lifestyle, social interactions, health, and well-being. During the last century, urbanization dramatically increased the share of the urban population. While cities are often associated with bad air quality, heavy traffic, high crime rates, scarce green space, and stressful living, rural areas offer a calmer life with more opportunities to enjoy nature and fresh air.

However, documented health disparities show that urban residents generally have better health than people living in rural areas. This "urban advantage" is a global phenomenon observed in many countries, including Sweden. Meanwhile, substantial health disparities within cities suggest complex relationships between urban living and health.

The key aim of this program, funded by Riksbankens jubileumsfond, is to help explain existing spatial health inequalities by providing novel and credible evidence on how urban characteristics influence residents' health. The overarching purpose of this program is to provide reliable evidence that can guide decision-
makers in designing cities, villages, and connecting infrastructure to maximize opportunities for a healthy life for as many people as possible.

Read more about the project on Riksbankens jubileumsfond's webpage