So it seems that most people are proud of the city they live in. That is if extensive polling is anything to go by. In both the UK and US, a majority of residents, often an overwhelming majority, expressed pride in their city. All of which sounds great. Interestingly though, the same studies also demonstrate that people can’t quite put their finger on why…
In the UK, a YouGov survey asked the residents of ten of the country’s biggest cities how proud they are to live there. South coast city Brighton came out on top, where an impressive 91% said that they are proud to live there. Even in Nottingham, which fared the worst, more than 60% said that they are proud to live there. But when these clearly content residents were asked what they love about their city, there was no single convincing answer. Many sited the local culture, the local people, while others highlighted transport links, shops, nightlife and restaurants. And in London and Edinburgh, historic landmarks were the most popular features.
In the US, an opinion poll conducted by Gallup and the US Census Bureau surveyed 13 metropolitan areas. The survey found that in these cities, at least 74% of adults said they were proud of their city. All in all, Americans seem to take pride in the city they call home. But yet again, when it comes to identifying why, there is no consensus. There was no correlation between pride and household income. Meanwhile, Dan Witters, the research director of Gallup-Sharecare’s Well-Being Index concluded that although conventional wisdom might assume otherwise, “Being from a smaller sized community doesn’t increase the chances that you’ll feel prideful of it.” And for some communities, the presence of a university or higher learning institution was a particular point of pride.
There are some fundamental things we can conclude from these surveys. The first is that ‘people pride’ is a definite positive for cities. A proud city is more likely to be a happy city, a desirable place to live and work. The second is that many cities are already filled with pride, although of course there is always room for improvement. The third is the most perplexing — What is at the root of city pride? Even these in-depth surveys don’t provide an answer.
And that is because quite often, what is at the root of pride is not something tangible — It is not buildings, restaurants, transport links or cultural activities. The feeling of pride is most likely rooted in the intangible — In the unseen bonds, the unspoken links and cues which tie people and their city together. Common experiences, activities and reference points are the key to a feeling of togetherness, a sense of community and a collective affinity to the city itself.
That is why people so often take such pride in a local sports team, becoming the focus of a common emotional attachment. That is why particular foods, drinks and especially beers become closely identified with a specific city. That is why local newspapers have endured for so long, providing an agreed common record of city life.
The possibilities for creating such bonds, the links that form the basis of city pride, are of course endless. Thankfully, rapidly developing technology means that there are perhaps more options than ever before. None more so than city-wide currencies. There are plenty of tried and tested community currencies across the world, such as the Bristol Pound in the UK. But the wonders of technology now make it possible to dispense with coins and notes and use a local currency through the convenience of a mobile app. This opens the door to new possibilities. It allows city residents to receive instant bonuses and rewards in the local currency. And when tailored correctly, such rewards can not only improve city life, but bring residents closer to the place they live.
Imagine if people were rewarded for actions which benefit the wider community — For volunteering, recycling, supporting local businesses and the like. Surely it would create a sense of belonging, a common purpose and ultimately a boost in civic pride. As such, there is every reason for local currencies to become an identifiable feature of city life. Should that happen, perhaps the next time surveys are conducted investigating levels of city pride, currency might feature as a popular, contributing factor?
