Valuing the impact on wellbeing of urban amenities in Beijing

Survey data for a sample of respondents in Beijing are used to evaluate the determinants of subjective wellbeing. The data are rich and allow the impact on wellbeing of amenities associated with housing to be evaluated alongside the impact of household income, thus enabling us to attach a value to characteristics such as neighbourhood tranquility, air quality, and access to infrastructure. The evidence suggests that the value of such amenities is high, and this has clear implications for urban design.