Community Redefined: Exploring the Evolution of Social Interactions - Inhabitants of Bremen and Lower Saxony expressing discontent.
People living in large cities in Lower Saxony and Bremen report feeling happiness than others in a recent survey. According to the "Happiness Atlas" published by the South German Lottery (SKL) on Tuesday, Bremen, Hannover and Braunschweig are ranked 30th, 32nd, and 36th respectively among the 40 biggest cities with over 200,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, the north Hessian city of Kassel tops the list.
The ranking is based on a survey conducted by the Institute for Demoscopy Allensbach, which questioned 25,557 individuals between January 2021 and April 2024. The researchers surveyed all cities equally during this period, so the impact of the pandemic is negligible. Instead, the focus was solely on how participants perceived their quality of life and wellbeing.
The happiness index and the subjectively chosen objective indicators show that some well-positioned cities make their residents feel happier than what may be measured through income, infrastructure, or green spaces. Bremen, Hannover, and Braunschweig, for instance, rank 26th, 23rd, and 8th respectively in these areas.
"The higher-ranking cities in the happiness ranking predominantly comprise smaller, cosy places," explains Bernd Raffelhüschen from the University of Freiburg, who led the survey. These cities often have a small-town or family-oriented atmosphere, a student environment, and an abundance of green spaces.
Hannover's bicycle infrastructure receives negative reviews, but families enjoy living there. The city boasts an above-average childcare facility and top-notch educational institutions. Bremen, meanwhile, deals with high debt and high unemployment for a West German city, while Braunschweig is home to many single people who are generally less satisfied than their counterparts.
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- Despite the positive ranking in objective indicators like infrastructure and green spaces, city dwellers in Hanover, such as those in Bremen and Braunschweig, expressed dissatisfaction with their happiness levels in the survey conducted by the IfD.
- In contrast, the city of Kassel, located in the neighboring state of Hesse, topped the 'Happiness Atlas' published by the SKL, indicating a high level of happiness among its residents.
- The Institute for Demoscopy Allensbach, which conducted the survey in Lower Saxony, Bremen, and other regions, found that the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the happiness index was negligible.
- The Survey results showed that Social affairs and Municipalities in IfD's Lower Saxony and Bremen, such as Hannover and Kassel, play a crucial role in influencing the residents' perception of their wellbeing and happiness.
- Policymakers in municipalities like Brunswick, which has a high number of single, less-satisfied residents, may want to consider implementing policies focusing on social affairs to improve happiness levels in the city.
Source: www.stern.de
