City reputation and the role of sustainability in cities

Abstract

City reputation is a valuable intangible asset that boosts the attractiveness of a city in terms of resources, events, tourism, or as a place of residence. Since city sustainability is understood as the framework of a city's economic activities conducted within the carrying capacity of the local environment to the benefit of the local population, it may help to satisfy city stakeholders' expectations over time; in other words, to enhance city reputation. Our results from Tobit analyses, based on an international sample of 62 cities between 2015 and 2018, confirm that city sustainability is a determinant of city reputation. Specifically, this study shows that the level of environmental, social, and economic sustainability affects positively city reputation. Our results are of interest to local authorities, as they indicate the relevance of efforts to consolidate city sustainability in order to build a good city reputation.