The Attractiveness of Urban Complexes: Economic Aspect and Risks of Environmental Pollution

Urbanization and intensive economic activities and growth are closely related. On the other hand, the economic, especially industrial activities cause the pollution of urban areas. In spite of that risk for human health, people strive to live in conditions which offer more chances for improved quality of life. In this paper the connection between the economic chances and healthy risk issues are investigated. To determine the rate of attractiveness of urban complexes the authors introduced the relation between gross domestic product of urban area and the air quality index, called economic attractiveness of urban area. This ratio is quite stable because changes of gross domestic product per capita and air quality index are not expected to be too dynamic and unpredictable. Additionally, the errors in the measuring of gross domestic product and air quality index are quite small and could not affect the result significantly. The results showed that correlation between gross domestic product and air quality index is negative, i.e., that higher gross domestic product per capita (GDP/c) is related with lower air quality index which means greater quality of air. In addition, the coefficient of economic attractiveness showed that urban areas with highest gross domestic product do not have to be the most attractive areas if the air quality index is higher.