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Feb 13, 2010
'Software' areas hurt S'pore
High scores for stability, infrastructure, but low on culture, environment
By Jessica Lim
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SINGAPORE UP SLIGHTLY IN LIVEABILITY RANKING

HIGH SCORES IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Singapore scored full marks in the EIU survey's infrastructure category. The Republic also did well in the area of stability - scoring 95 out of a maximum 100 points. --ST FILE PHOTOS
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SINGAPORE scores highly in areas like infrastructure and stability, but does poorly when it comes to culture and living environment. That, at least, is the conclusion of a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which ranked Singapore 53rd on a list of 140 cities worldwide for liveability.

The Republic scored better than culture capitals New York and London - which lost out because of crumbling infrastructure - but lower than Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka.

The survey examined 30 factors in five categories: Stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Singapore's overall score was 88.5 out of a maximum of 100.

Hong Kong and Seoul did better, scoring 92 and 85.9 overall, respectively.

The top-ranked city, Vancouver, scored 98, while Osaka, the top Asian city in the poll, scored 95.2. Harare in Zimbabwe was ranked the lowest.

The Republic excelled in categories such as infrastructure and stability - scoring 100 and 95, respectively - but was dragged down by its score of 75.7 in the culture and environment category, which measures everything from the variety of quality concerts in the city to social restrictions such as censorship.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

limjess@sph.com.sg