The concept and approach of European Quality of Life survey Robert Anderson Workshop on ‘Measuring multidimensional aspects of Quality of life’ Eurostat, Luxembourg, 23 September 2010 31/12/2018

Measuring social progress Richard Layard – economics of happiness – measurement of well-being essential for policy-makers (2005) Sarkozy’s Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (2009) Commission Communication on “GDP and beyond: measuring progress in a changing world” (2009) 3rd OECD World Forum ‘Charting progress, building visions, improving life’ (October 2009) 31/12/2018

Measuring progress in a changing world (2009) Improved indicators reflecting new political and technical context Improved indicators meeting citizens’ concerns Complementing GDP with environmental and social indicators - A comprehensive environmental index - Quality of life and well-being More accurate reporting on distribution and inequalities 31/12/2018

Conceptual framework for quality of life in Europe Scientifically grounded and robust Scope people have to attain goals, within constraints of economic, environmental and social sustainability Quality of life as overarching frame encompassing other concepts that apply at level of individual, family, community and society Broader focus on quality of life than more narrowly on living conditions or resources (Eurofound, 2003) 31/12/2018

European Quality of Life Survey Key characteristics: Views quality of life in terms of the overall level of well-being of individuals Assessed in terms of outcomes and experiences (objective), but also how people feel about their lives (subjective) Core focus on domains of employment, economic resources, family, housing, community and health – and specifically on the inter-relationships between domains (e.g. work and family, health and economic situation) Addresses the quality of society – in terms of quality of services and environment, social capital and societal relations. 31/12/2018

Survey methodology Representative household survey of people 18+ Interviews Sept-Dec 2003; Sept-Dec 2007; Sept 2009 (EB) Covers all 27 EU Member States, plus Candidate Countries (Turkey, FYROM, Croatia) and Norway Sample size: Usually 1000 per country, Large country variations in response rates (30%-70%+) Analytical rather than descriptive approach to monitoring 31/12/2018

EQLS 2003: 15 Member States 10 countries about to become EU Members 2 countries with longer to wait 25,000 interviews 2007: 27 Member States 31,500 interviews (in EU27) Reweighting of 2003 data to make comparable with 2007 2009: Special Eurobarometer 321 26,719 interviews of 15+ 19 indicators comparable with EQLS 31/12/2018

Satisfaction with life in general EU 27, 2003-2009 31/12/2018

Perceived tension between racial & ethnic groups EU27, 2007-2009 31/12/2018

Change in trust in national parliament EU27, 2007-2009 31/12/2018

In Conclusion Meaningful documentation of relationships and trends but: Need indicators sensitive to change and larger sample sizes for more accurate measurement. Importance of comprehensive multidimensional measures, but: Breadth is not usually compatible with depth and monitoring is not the same as same as measuring impact of policy Documentation of trends and change globally, but: Must consider impacts on different socio-economic groups and look at change beyond the individual in level – in the family/household, community and society 31/12/2018