The European Case of Urban Statistics - Progress in Comparability - Dr. Berthold Feldmann Eurostat Luxembourg November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Structure of this presentation The need for comparable urban statistics The role of Eurostat Achievements so far The Urban Audit History and content some results future plans Urban Statistics in the EU

Objectives of this presentation URBAN STATISTICS: Present the achievements reached so far in the European Union Give some ideas about the future development

The growing need for information CHAPTER 1 The growing need for information November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Need for information Rational and efficient political actions need as a base the quantification of social and economic phenomena More and more people live in cities Hence: The development in cities should be monitored and analysed more rigorously Urban Statistics in the EU

Need for information Detect negative trends in the cities in order to counteract Compare problems and chances internationally in order to learn from each other Harmonised urban statistics are the base for well-founded urban policy at all levels: The European Commission The national government The cities themselves Urban Statistics in the EU

At EU level: two policy papers of the European Commission “Towards an urban agenda in the European Union”, Com(97)197, 06.05.1997 “Sustainable urban development in the European Union: a framework for action”, Com(98)605, 28.10.1998 Urban Statistics in the EU

The challenge for Eurostat CHAPTER 2 The challenge for Eurostat November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union is part of the “Commission” is placed in Luxembourg employs around 600 people nearly all data collection in National Statistical Offices Urban Statistics in the EU

Eurostat Two major tasks Statistics based on collect European statistics and disseminate it harmonise concepts Statistics based on Regulations (= legal base) gentlemen’s agreements (voluntary) Urban Statistics in the EU

Our mission to produce reliable, comparable and relevant statistics (quality charta) to provide European institutions and the public at large with data for Community policies to support the development of statistical systems in Member States and other countries to harmonise methodology Urban Statistics in the EU

CHAPTER 3 Achievements so far November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

(a) Analysis of Requirements 1997: a thorough study by an external expert “There is a growing demand” Availability of data NUTS level 5 data (database SIRE) Labour Force Survey (NUTS level 2) Importance of Comparability Urban Statistics in the EU

(b) The definition of variables Call for tender 1998, accomplished in spring 2000 183 variables were identified many variables are not available at the necessary level of geographical break down the report is available in web format Urban Statistics in the EU

(c) The database SIRE Demography data at NUTS level 5, i.e. 98 400 local units around 30 variables only every ten years new census data can be linked to LFS data Urban Statistics in the EU

(d) Urban Statistics Database (USD) Contract in 1998 (1 year project) Combines available data from SIRE (NUTS level 5) LFS (NUTS level 5) household budget survey Could be enlarged to environmental data Limitations of this approach Urban Statistics in the EU

(e) Remote Sensing Several projects via satellite proved operational (primarily for agriculture statistics) Directed by Eurostat and NSOs on the basis of common tender specifications Helps to define Urban Agglomerations High costs, hence cost-benefit analysis essential Urban Statistics in the EU

(f) a new survey ? High costs in money terms burden on surveyed institutions no specific legal base exists at Community level currently no friendly climate for new legislation Urban Statistics in the EU

SUMMARY The demand exists Existing approaches have clear limitations A new survey is quite impossible Hence: the Urban Audit ? Use existing data sets only for a selection of cities Urban Statistics in the EU

The Urban Audit (a) history CHAPTER 4 The Urban Audit (a) history November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

The Urban Audit Call for tender of the Commission (DG REGIO) in 1997 Selection of contractor in May 1998 limited project for 1 year designed as a “pilot study” (feasibility study) Target: to collect data on the quality of life for 58 European cities Urban Statistics in the EU

The cities 58 cities were selected About 15% of national population London and Paris were excluded (too difficult for a pilot study) Urban Statistics in the EU

The cities Spain Madrid Belgium Antwerp Barcelona Brussels Valencia Seville Saragossa Malaga France Marseilles Lyon Toulouse Nice Strasburg Bordeaux Nantes Lille Ireland Dublin Cork Belgium Antwerp Brussels Denmark Copenhagen Germany Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Essen Stuttgart Leipzig Dresden Greece Athens Thessaloniki Patras Urban Statistics in the EU

The cities Portugal Lisbon Italy Rome Oporto Milan Braga Naples Finland Helsinki Sweden Stockholm Gothenburg United Kingdom Birmingham Leeds Glasgow Bradford Liverpool Edinburgh Manchester Cardiff Italy Rome Milan Naples Turin Palermo Genoa Florence Bari Luxembourg Luxembourg Netherlands Amsterdam Rotterdam Austria Graz Vienna Urban Statistics in the EU

The Urban Audit (b) concept CHAPTER 4 .. The Urban Audit (b) concept November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Geographical Area 3 Levels : the administrative city the “Wider Territorial Unit” the sub-city level Urban Statistics in the EU

WIDER TERRITORIAL UNITS criteria building blocks = “administrative areas” population density extent of built up area Some weaknesses in concept when: large sub-urban administrative area includes only small part of built up area definition is similar to an administrative area which includes relatively low density unit Urban Statistics in the EU

DISPARITIES WITHIN CITIES Approach: Define sub city areas (ideally 10,000 population) Generate selected (common) indicators Select two contrasting areas Generate selected (common) indicators for the two areas Issues: “Standard” definitions of sub-city areas vary Results depend on how boundaries are drawn Urban Statistics in the EU

Covered domains Population and nationality Household structure Labour market (incl. unemployment) Income and poverty Housing Health Crime Civic involvement Education and training Air and water quality Waste management Travel patterns Energy Use Recreation and culture Urban Statistics in the EU

Time series Whenever possible data for 1981, 1991 and 1996 Problem: boundary changes over time affect validity Problem: definition of surveyed variables may change over time Urban Statistics in the EU

The results An overview in printed format (comparative analysis) an individual exhaustive City Audit per city a web site: http://www.inforegio.org/urban/audit/index.html The “Urban Audit Day” near Paris 21 September 2000 Urban Statistics in the EU

The Urban Audit (b) some results CHAPTER 4 ... The Urban Audit (b) some results November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Some results ….. The proportion of elderly people increases more in the cities than at national level The proportion of young people has decreased Poverty: 23% of the inhabitants of cities dispose of less than half of the national average income Urban Statistics in the EU

Population Urban Statistics in the EU

Population density Urban Statistics in the EU

Proportion of non-nationals Urban Statistics in the EU

Households Urban Statistics in the EU

One-person households Urban Statistics in the EU

Lone parents Urban Statistics in the EU

More results … crime Urban crime rates are considerably higher than national averages crime against people is slightly declining, while crime against property is rising people perceive crime as a more severe problem than it really is Urban Statistics in the EU

Unemployment Urban Statistics in the EU

Unemployment: disparities at sub-city level Urban Statistics in the EU

Urban Environment Traffic related pollution increases Pollution caused by industry is declining Winter smog is down Summer smog increases water consumption is declining improvements in waste processing Urban Statistics in the EU

Registered cars Urban Statistics in the EU

CHAPTER 5 Future plans November 2000 berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

Some ideas about the follow up Evaluation of results as fast as possible Include Paris and London Include cities of applicant countries Include more EU cities (on a voluntary base) Regular data collection Urban Statistics in the EU

Clear organisational setup DG REGIO give general (political) guidelines Eurostat is responsible for the database (quality) and for dissemination National co-ordinators keep contact between the cities and Eurostat The cities supply the statistics, in reward they obtain a comparable set of urban data as a base for sound politics Urban Statistics in the EU

National Co-ordinators Direct contact between Eurostat and more than 60 cities is not possible First choice as national co-ordinator: National Statistical Offices If they can’t: Networks of urban affairs or other specialists are also welcome Urban Statistics in the EU

Tentative timetable Evaluation until March 2001 Working Party with Member States around April 2001 May / June: decision on the core set of variables the frequency of data collection the cities to cover the national co-ordinators October 2001: Start of Urban Audit II Urban Statistics in the EU

Thanks for your attention Any questions ??