The IQF Quality of Life Index (https://www.obcevdatech.cz) represents a summary assessment of key living conditions in municipalities. A higher value means a more favourable environment. By contrast, the ISV Social Exclusion Index (https://www.socialni-zaclenovani.cz/index_socialni_vylouceni/) captures a concentration of problems, such as low employment in the labour market or a worse income situation. Thus, a higher ISV value means a worse situation.
The analysis was carried out in each year as a comparison across all cities. There were always the same number of observations, which rules out various distortions by changing the composition of the sample. The correlation was measured in two ways: by Pearson for the linear relationship and by Spearman for the order consistency. Both approaches show a similar picture.
The Pearson coefficient ranged from approximately minus 0.61 to minus 0.69 and Spearman from minus 0.55 to minus 0.62 in all the years studied. If the ISV scale reversal is converted to a mirror value, the relationship becomes a positive correlation of similar magnitude, which already intuitively says that better living conditions go hand in hand with less social vulnerability.
How did the individual years turn out
The values remain very similar across the years. The strongest relationship emerged in 2022, when Pearson reached minus 0.693 and Spearman minus 0.620. The weakest result is in 2020, but even here the data show a clear negative relationship.
When all seven years are combined, a set of more than 1,000 observations is produced. The total of Pearson is based on minus 0.641 and Spearman on minus 0.591. These values mean that the two measured variables have a roughly 40% overlap in the shared variance. In simple terms, in many cities the development of quality of life and social exclusion moves together, even if they are two differently composed indices.
What does the situation look like in the last year
In 2024, the linear correlation shows a value of minus 0.643 and the order correlation minus 0.600. The visualization shows a downward line, where better quality of life corresponds to lower values of social exclusion. At the same time, the cities ranked among the highest in the ICZ are among those with the lowest rates of social exclusion.
What follows
This analysis offers three practical benefits. First, it confirms the robustness of the two indices, which describe the related phenomenon in different ways. Second, it provides an early warning tool. In places where quality of life is declining, the rate of social exclusion often rises at the same time. Third, it helps to identify key priorities. The territories with low ICZ and high ISV are among the most suitable candidates for comprehensive interventions in the areas of work, education, housing and security.
Conclusion
The relationship between quality of life and social exclusion is firmly established in Czech cities. Higher quality of life usually goes hand in hand with less social vulnerability. For the strategic management of municipalities, this means that investments in infrastructure, services, health, education or the labour market have a parallel effect. They help to improve living conditions and at the same time reduce the extent of social exclusion. However, in order to set local policies correctly, it is necessary to understand the details, both at the level of individual themes and within the spatial structure within cities.