Residential Attractiveness of Cities from the Perspective of the Efficiency, Residents’ Perception and Preferences: The Case of Serbia

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to determine the most influential factors related to cities/towns attractiveness and to compare respondents’ perception and real efficiency of certain cities. Empirical study is designed to evaluate residential attractiveness of the cities in Republic of Serbia as cities’ relative efficiency from one hand and citizens’ perception and preferences regarding living conditions from the other hand. For the purpose of attractiveness assessment, two input–output scenarios are created: financial and mixed financial health efficiency scenario. Both scenarios are evaluated using suitable Data Envelopment Analysis models which resulted in comparison of cities/towns attractiveness and determination of the most influential factors. This analysis was extended by a survey of the residents’ perceptions as well as their preference through conjoint analysis. The hypothesis was if the city was assessed as efficient, it does not automatically mean that it is perceived as attractive. Namely, sometimes ‘image’ of the particular city is more important than its quantified efficiency. Comparative analysis of results of both methods proves the aforementioned hypothesis in the case of the 15 regional centres in Serbia. The findings of this study could be used as directions for the public demography policymakers.