This book explores the conditions needed to make public and private investments in healthy cities most effective. The authors argue that three conditions are essential for such investments: citizen empowerment, corporate responsibility and a coordinated improvement of urban health conditions. Using an integrated approach to health in line with the Healthy Cities philosophy of the World Health Organization, case studies in Helsinki, Liverpool, London, Udine and Vancouver are not only used to demonstrate the relevance of these conditions, but also to show how actors in these cities are trying to meet these conditions.

Alexander Otgaar, Jeroen Klijs and Leo van den Berg all at the European Institute for Comparative Urban Research, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Contents: Preface; Conditions for investments in healthy cities; Helsinki; Liverpool; London; Udine; Vancouver; Synthesis and conclusions; Index.