However, it must be acknowledged that it also has its opponents. They have apparently not yet taken advantage of modern technology and new data series to advance their knowledge. Below, we have written a short article on the significance of the Quality of Life Index (in general) and how to approach its calculation.
Quality of life is a complex and multidimensional concept that encompasses a wide range of factors that affect the well-being of individuals and entire societies. These range from economic conditions, education, and health to social relationships and environmental conditions. All these components contribute to the overall perception of living standards. Measuring quality of life is therefore a key tool for politicians, government organizations, researchers, and non-profit organizations that strive to improve conditions for citizens. Quality of life indices are quantitative methods for capturing and monitoring this complexity.
The importance of quality of life indices
Quality of life indices are used to measure and evaluate various aspects of living standards. The use of such indices provides decision-makers with tools for comparing and identifying areas that require intervention or improvement. They can be applied at the level of individuals, cities, regions, or entire countries. The most common applications include:
- Policy-making – indices provide a basis for developing policies aimed at improving the quality of life of the population.
- International/national comparisons – comparing indices between countries or regions allows for a comparison of progress in human development.
- Research – academic research often uses indices to analyze factors affecting quality of life.
Different approaches to calculating indicesThere are several methodological approaches to creating and calculating quality of life indices. These approaches vary depending on the indicators, weights, data collection methods, and analytical techniques chosen. The most common methods include:
- Subjective approaches involve measuring subjective well-being and satisfaction with various areas of life. This approach involves the use of questionnaires and interviews in which people assess their overall satisfaction.
- Objective approaches combine data on health (life expectancy), education (educational attainment and gross enrollment rates), and economic conditions (job opportunities). The indices use objective indicators that can be measured based on available statistical data.
- Hybrid approaches include both objective and subjective indicators. For example, they combine economic indicators such as per capita income with questionnaires on residents' perceptions of quality of life.
- Multidimensional methods use factor analysis or principal component analysis to extract key factors that influence quality of life. These methods help simplify complex data and create indicators that combine multiple dimensions of life into a single number.
International research on quality of life indices
Measuring quality of life is common and widely used in the international environment. Individual indices differ in terms of structure, data sources, and processing methods. Below are the most well-known indices (the list is not exhaustive, but sufficiently represents the importance of the topic):
- Human Development Index (HDI) – United Nations
The HDI is a basic indicator for measuring progress in development. This index combines indicators such as life expectancy, education, and per capita income. It provides an overall assessment of the standard of living in countries and regions. - OECD Better Life Index – Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
This index assesses various aspects of quality of life, including working conditions, education, health, the environment, safety, and other factors. It creates an interactive platform that allows individual users to customize the index according to their preferences. - The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index
This index assesses the quality of life in 140 cities based on factors such as stability, healthcare, culture, environment, and infrastructure. It is very useful for urban and regional planning. - Happy Planet Index (HPI) – New Economics Foundation
This index measures the ecological footprint and happiness of the population, providing a unique perspective on how effectively countries achieve a high quality of life with sustainable ecological consumption. This index highlights the balance between human well-being and environmental sustainability. - Numbeo Quality of Life Index
This index, based on user ratings, provides data on the quality of life in individual cities and regions based on the cost of living, safety, healthcare, education, transportation, and other factors. Thanks to crowdsourcing, it is regularly updated and reflects current changes. - Quality of Life Index by Municipality in Data
This index focuses specifically on assessing the quality of life at the municipal level and higher administrative units (such as regions). It uses analytical tools and data to support decision-making in the public sector. This index integrates indicators such as job availability, local service efficiency, social and infrastructure conditions, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of municipal management and improving the quality of life of their residents. - The Legatum Prosperity Index
This index measures the overall prosperity of nations and evaluates factors such as economic conditions, personal freedoms, health, education, entrepreneurial culture, and security. This index is often used to compare long-term trends and analyze factors that contribute to the overall quality of life in countries. - Social Progress Index (SPI)
Created by the Social Progress Imperative, this index assesses quality of life based on three pillars: basic human needs, foundations for improving quality of life, and opportunities. The SPI focuses on factors not covered by traditional economic indicators, such as health, education, the environment, and equality. - Sustainable Economic Development Assessment (SEDA)
This index evaluates countries' economic development not only on the basis of traditional economic indicators (such as GDP), but also on the basis of the sustainability of this development. It takes into account factors such as environmental sustainability, stability, and equality of opportunity.
International research shows a wide range of indices that are used to measure quality of life, both at the national level and within cities and regions. Each of these indices offers a different perspective on what constitutes a "good life" and takes into account various factors such as economic conditions, education, health, safety, environmental sustainability, and social equality. Specific indices such as the Municipality in Data Quality of Life Index demonstrate the importance of analysis at lower administrative levels, which is key to effective public administration and improving conditions for local residents.
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