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A Worldwide Measure of Societal Quality of Life

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  • J. Haavard Maridal

    (Baylor University)

Abstract

This paper proposes a comprehensive new measure of societal quality of life (QOL) at the national level. Focusing on livability, the environmental, external factors that constitute a society’s QOL this measure derives from a novel and multifaceted analysis of subjective wellbeing data. In determining what people actually value, the measure allows for a comprehensive cross-country comparison of QOL that complements normative objective-list or capabilities approaches. The analysis supports the five broad categories of Community and Relationships, Freedom and Opportunity, Health and Environment, Living Standard, and Peace and Security as antecedents to QOL. Current measures overlook or deemphasize aspects of these elements. This paper explains the methodology used to construct the index and, provides complete country rankings of QOL for 143 countries since 2000.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Haavard Maridal, 2017. "A Worldwide Measure of Societal Quality of Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(1), pages 1-38, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:134:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1418-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1418-y
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    2. Rebecca Patrick & Amy Shaw & Alison Freeman & Claire Henderson-Wilson & Justin Lawson & Mia Davison & Teresa Capetola & Calvin K. F. Lee, 2019. "Human Wellbeing and the Health of the Environment: Local Indicators that Balance the Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 146(3), pages 651-667, December.
    3. Hilary I. Okagbue & Pelumi E. Oguntunde & Sheila A. Bishop & Patience I. Adamu & Elvir M. Akhmetshin & Chukwuemeka O. Iroham, 2021. "Significant Predictors of Henley Passport Index," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-32, March.
    4. Oliver Nahkur & Rein Taagepera, 2021. "Lead and Lag Times of Countries in a Gentler World," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 999-1030, April.
    5. Ghasem Javadi & Mohammad Taleai, 2020. "Integration of User Generated Geo-contents and Official Data to Assess Quality of Life in Intra-national Level," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 205-235, November.
    6. Murtaza Haider & Randall Shannon & George P. Moschis, 2022. "Sustainable Consumption Research and the Role of Marketing: A Review of the Literature (1976–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-36, March.
    7. Raghad Almashhour & Fatin Samara, 2022. "Evaluating Livability Perceptions: Indicators to Evaluate Livability of a University Campus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-31, September.
    8. Mung Khie Tsen & Manli Gu & Chee Meng Tan & See Kwong Goh, 2023. "Homeworking and Employee Job Stress and Work Engagement: A Multilevel Analysis from 34 European Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 511-538, August.

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