Living Conditions and Urban Happiness in the Metropolitan Areas of Bucaramanga and Cúcuta

Abstract

Objective. To know the degree of satisfaction or urban happiness of the university population in the last semester, resident in the metropolitan areas of the core cities of Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Method. Inductive-rational. The research model was carried out based on the international indices of: Pluridimensional Well-being, Quality of Life, Gross Internal Happiness and Better Life Well-being. From the Colombian urban happiness indicators, the following were taken: National Happiness Index of the National Planning Department, Integral Happiness Index of the city of Medellín and Urban Happiness Index of the ESAP of Antioquia. The study was carried out according to the multivariate statistical analysis method, with a confidence level of 97% and a margin of error of 5%. 440 questionnaires were applied to students in the last semester of the university, from the main vocational training centers located in the metropolitan area of ​​the core cities of Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Results. Young university students in the last semester of the metropolitan area of ​​Bucaramanga have urban happiness, in an evaluation range of 1 to 5, of 3.55. The main factors that influenced the response are the good equipment of the city, the dissatisfaction of future professionals with the political class, the regular management of local governments and the scarce community participation. Research Contributions. The study provides Economic Policy and Political Science contributions to the municipal governments of the core cities of Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, on the factors that influence general well-being, future expectations of living conditions and happiness urbanization in young university students, in order to take actions to reduce qualified migrations, improve the efficiency of public spending on city facilities and promote local development based on the retention of its young talent.