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Exploring the impact of public services on quality of life indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Adriana Castelli

    (Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK)

  • Rowena Jacobs

    (Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK)

  • Maria Goddard

    (Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK)

  • Peter C Smith

    (Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK)

Abstract

The fundamental aim of public services is to improve the quality of life of citizens. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of public service organisations (PSOs) on aspects of quality of life (broadly measured) of citizens at a local level. We assembled a rich database using 20 of the 45 quality of life measures developed by the Audit Commission. Those we selected covered broad areas of quality of life such as safety, housing, health, education, and transport and were available at ‘small area’ level. We used a range of advanced statistical methods to analyse the relationships between PSOs and quality of life measures at different hierarchical levels. The techniques were selected to be robust when making comparisons between levels and when looking at associations between quality of life measures. Our descriptive analyses (bivariate correlations, factor analysis and ANOVA) suggested overall some significant correlations between some of the quality of life variables. The SUR model results also indicated that the quality of life indicators are correlated, and therefore that we should look at these measures in a joint modelling approach such as MVML, as envisaged in the study objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana Castelli & Rowena Jacobs & Maria Goddard & Peter C Smith, 2009. "Exploring the impact of public services on quality of life indicators," Working Papers 046cherp, Centre for Health Economics, University of York.
    • Handle: RePEc:chy:respap:46cherp
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Watson, Dorothy, 2011. "Quality of Public Services: Irish Public Perceptions and Implications for Renewal," Papers EC6, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    2. Castelli, Adriana & Jacobs, Rowena & Goddard, Maria & Smith, Peter C., 2013. "Health, policy and geography: Insights from a multi-level modelling approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 61-73.
    3. Claudiu Coman & Adrian Netedu & Sorin Liviu Damean & Ovidiu Florin Toderici & Victor Alexandru Briciu & Mihai Lucian Pascu & Maria Cristina Bularca, 2023. "Improving the Quality of Community Public Services-Case Study: General Directorate of Personal Records, Brașov," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-43, January.

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