Fit to lead?

Rankings tempt us with their answers to simple questions, such as which cities offer the best investment prospects (the 'Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe' report drawn up by PwC and the Urban Land Institute), which cities are the most expensive office locations in the world (the 'Office Space Across the World' report of Cushman & Wakefield), which cities are the fastest and the slowest developing ones (the 'Global Metro Monitor' report published by Brookings).
The problem with the various rankings is that their creators analyse different data. Consequently the same cities can sometimes be the leaders and sometimes the losers. Of course, it could be said that this is a good thing because it would be very difficult to definitively draw up the most reliable and objective ranking. Indeed, it is not even possible. But one unquestionable leader emerges when you peruse the most recently published reports. It is Warsaw.
Examples? Let's take a look at the PwC report on the best investment prospects in Europe this year. Warsaw comes third in this ranking. Other cities from our region did much worse (Prague came 14th, with Budapest trailing in 24th). This is, of course, a reason to be proud and, in a way, a confirmation of the fact that the Polish economy gets such a good press from investors. Turning to the latest Global Metro Monitor, this ranking lists the fastest and slowest developing metropolises all over the world. Here Warsaw is up against 200 other cities and is no longer among the leaders, coming in at 33rd. However, we need to remember that this is a global ranking. If we narrow it down to the region (Eastern Europe is lumped together with Central Asia in the Global Metro Monitor), the Polish capital is in fifth position. Not bad. The winners in the region are the Turkish cities of Izmir and Ankara, which come fourth and sixth respectively. Warsaw is directly preceded by Bucharest. In the ranking developed by Cushman & Wakefield, Warsaw had the tenth highest growth in office rent for European cities in 2011 (6.7 pct). In addition to this, the report reveals that last year saw a record high in the demand for office space in Warsaw (with leases signed for over 570,000 sqm). And we could easily go on... because there is no shortage of examples of where Warsaw makes a significant impact on the rankings.
So much for the numbers and dry facts. What about the reality? Do we genuinely have reasons to celebrate? Is the capital of Poland actually an investment paradise? In a sense it is. I think that those who have invested here sensibly have no grounds for complaint. It might, however, be worse for those who over-invested during the boom... but that is the subject for another article. Finally, it is worth taking into account Warsaw's residents. There is no point searching for the city among those ranked top for having the best living conditions. In this regard, unfortunately, there is still a lot to be done. Wojciech Bartelski, the mayor of the Śródmieście city centre district, in recent statements has brought the issue into focus. "Those who persistently try to paint Warsaw as a city of hungry people, the homeless and the poor, irritate me. People in the city are getting wealthier. They forget that the backbone of the city is the silent majority, those who work normally, prosper, and do not expect the government to ?give' them anything, but instead to use the steep taxes they pay to provide decent infrastructure and high quality municipal services," he said. This remark provoked an avalanche of mostly critical comments. Critics accused him of failing to consider citizens' problems and being only concerned with creating a business-friendly city. I do not intend to discuss here who is in the right - the mayor or his opponents. What matters more is the fact that being a leader involves a number of obligations. Perhaps this is something worth working on, so that not only investors and developers can be proud of the city, but also the people who live here.