It’s not too often that you stumble across so much useful and interesting research, but the EU seems to have managed that feat this week with its Urban Audit. It basically amounts to a vast survey of all aspects of quality of life in different European cities. The only problem with it is that there is so much information it’s hard to digest it all. The stats about unemployment in deprived neighbourhoods are scary though. Maybe the audit is the same as the EU overall – good content but lousy presentation?

A wealth of new information about the Nordic economic model is provided on the New Economist blog that I happen to have chanced upon. Articles are here, here, and here. Brussels Journal has quite a good reply to these claims here – although take it with a pinch of salt.