Comparing the quality of life of cities that gained and lost population: An assessment with DEA and the Malmquist index

Abstract

This study compares the quality of life (QoL) of cities that lost population with that of cities that gained population. A unique dataset composed of observations for 11 dimensions of QoL for all mainland Portuguese cities is used. By employing a non‐parametric approach (data envelopment analysis), and by using a Malmquist‐type index, this study identifies differences in QoL between the group of cities that lost population and the group of cities that gained population, as well as differences within each group. Despite the heterogeneity in cities that shrunk, this group presents, on average, higher QoL than cities that have grown.