U.S. Missing From Top Cities List

Mercer, the human resources consulting firm, conducts an annual survey of cities with the best standard of living. The purpose is to help "multinational companies and governments compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments."

A quick glance at the 2011 results begs the question: What’s wrong with the U.S.? Eight of the top 10 are in Europe and despite a leading eight cities in the top 50, the first U.S. destination on the list is Honolulu at No. 29.

The top five: Vienna, Austria; Zurich, Switzerland; Auckland, New Zealand; and Munich and Dusseldorf, Germany. Vancouver comes in sixth before a return to four more locations in Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.

Africa and the Middle East dominate the "bottom 10," with Baghdad at the final spot of No. 221.

But really, where are the New Yorks, Chicagos and other domestic locales?