Nearly 60 percent of Beijingers felt happy to live in the city
last year, a figure similar to the 2006 findings,? while 67.2
percent felt affected by pollution, according to a report on the
living index of Beijing residents.
The report was released on Friday by the Capital University of
Economics and Business.
Among the findings, it revealed youth below 15 and seniors above
60 have a stronger sense of happiness than those aged between 15
and 60. Women felt it is easier to obtain a sense of happiness from
family, while men get their sense of happiness through higher
income and personal-value fulfillment.
The report showed 67.2 percent of residents felt affected by
environmental pollution to different degrees. They regarded air
pollution as their biggest headache. Car emissions were blamed as
the major source for air pollution.
The report indicated most Beijingers felt safe, while 22.2
percent felt unsafe, similar to the 2006 figures.
Other findings revealed 43 percent felt "economically not safe"
as they worried they might be laid off or their income would
slide.
Although the Beijing Municipal Government implemented a variety
of policies to boost public transport, such as cutting metro fares,
residents' satisfaction index on transport failed to reach the 60
percent mark, down 11.1 percent from the previous year. Most
complained they spent longer time on the road due to traffic in
2007.
(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2008)
