1. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
Progress of the work done by the Expert Group on Quality of Life Indicators
Luxembourg 4-5 March 2013
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

2. Quality of Life (QoL) Indicators
QoL indicators will complement the figures provided by GDP (as a measure of economic performance) with additional information for monitoring social and environmental progress.
The concept of Quality of Life is widely accepted as consisting of different dimensions (which are independent but equally interrelated to some extent).
The ESS and Eurostat are commited to developing a set of indicators of QoL regarding all of these dimensions, and disseminating them in the form of a scoreboard.
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

3. Background: previous initiatives
European Commission: communication on "GDP and beyond: Measuring progress in a changing world" (COM(2009) 433 final, August 2009)1, on the development of internationally recognised quality of life and well-being indicators, further than GDP.
Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi (SSF) Commission: the report on the "Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress" or SSF Report (September 2009)2, identifies the limits of GDP and analyses the gap between official statistics and the individuals’ subjective perception of progress and well-being. 1: 2:
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

4. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
ESS initiative
Sponsorship Group (SpG)3 on “Measuring Progress, Well-being and Sustainable Development” (2010 – 2011) including a Task Force on Quality of Life (TF3) on multidimensional measures of QoL.
The final SpG report sets out specific actions (who are now part of the European Statistical Programme) to be undertaken for measuring progress in the GDP and beyond context.
In parallel, Eurostat has carried out an internal study to assess the feasibility of a set of indicators of QoL based on the proposed multidimensional framework. 3:
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

5. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
DSS initiative
Following the recommendations by the SpG/TF3, the European Directors of Social Statistics (DSS) has convened an advisory Expert Group representing users, producers and other stakeholders, to further work on the set of indicators on QoL. The DSS meeting of 21 March 2012 issued the Terms of Reference and mandate for the Expert Group on quality of life indicators (EG QoLI), and Eurostat has gathered and launched the EG in June 2012.
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

6. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
EG on QoLI: Objectives
Setting up the overall list of indicators according to the theoretical framework and the corresponding 8+1 dimensions of quality of life, while contributing to explain the rationale behind.
Developing synthetic indicators, contributing on their methodology and their corresponding dissemination formats (whenever feasible).)
Establish the composition of the scoreboard based on the different types of indicators.
Consider data not yet available or even the use of non ESS data sources.
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

7. EG on Quality of Life Indicators
Comprises both users and producers
Including members of statistical authorities from 9 MS
Experts from Academia and other private organizations
Representatives from DG EMPL, DG REGIO, JRC and Eurofound
International organizations: OECD
Eurostat staff
2 meetings of the EG so far
the first took place in June 15, 2012
the second in October 6-7, 2012
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

8. EG: work process Proposals from Eurostat for the EG SpG/TF3 reports
Work has been carried out on the basis of the conclusions by the SpG/TF3, a study on well-being indicators commissioned by Eurostat, and Eurostat's internal work
SpG/TF3 reports
Proposals from Eurostat for the EG
Discussion
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

9. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
EG: progress (I)
Agreement on a final structure of topics and subtopics for developing the framework of dimensions
List of variables and indicators
based on already existing data
based on planned future data availability
to be further reflected upon and to be developed
Initial proposals for synthethic indicators: a quality assessment for these indicators must be more fully analysed by Eurostat, taking into account the cautions raised by the EG.
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

10. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
EG: progress (II)
Conclusions on sources
EU-SILC as the core instrument for measuring QoL
Other ESS sources will complement the whole picture: LFS1, AES2, HBS3, EHIS4, TUS5
Non-ESS sources (EQLS)6 could temporarily act as placeholders.
Disseminating the set of indicators via Eurostat's specific web pages, going beyond the scoreboard: Several NSIs have presented already existing national experiences in disseminating data and narratives
1:Labour Force Survey. 2: Adult Education Survey. 3:Household Budgetary Survey. 4:European Health Interview Survey. 5:Time Use Survey. 6: European Qaulity of Life Survey
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

11. Some potential challenges
Some of the information is not yet available or cannot be provided on a yearly basis.
Selecting the type of measure (indicator): not only central tendency measures or thresholds, but inform on the whole distribution.
The choice of breakdowns (depending on their availability) will be a key issue in order to identify vulnerable subpopulations.
For dissemination purposes, it must be clarified who are the main audiences for the dissemination and defined the form in which comparisons between areas or countries would be presented.
The definition of the scoreboard and headlines indicators should provide more global information and be attractive
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

12. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
Next steps
A first subset scoreboard of non-controversial indicators on Quality of Life will be immediately disseminated by Eurostat through a dedicated section on its website.
Though they are based on ESS data (with SILC as the core survey and mainly complemented by LFS or EHIS amongst others) additional sources limited in number (such as EQLS) can provide information in the short term, in most cases referring to subjective issues.
The DSS is invited to consider reinforcing the links between the EU initiative and the national initiatives by cross referencing Eurostat and MS relevant web pages
In parallel, an analytical report on these indicators will be drafted by the end of the year, that could take several formats: book, web pages, etc.
The next dissemination enhancement will consist of the results of the SILC ad hoc module 2013 on well-being (2015).
The EG is foreseen to have finished his work by the beginning of 2014, with a parallel and progressive dissemination according to the development. The next meeting will be held in April 2013.
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

13. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
For more information
Detailed information about all the activities and documents related to the Expert Group can be found on the EG's Circa site:
Jean Louis Mercy
European Commission - DG ESTAT Head of Unit F4 "Qality of Life" tel. (+352)
Miguel Guigó
European Commission - DG ESTAT Unit F1 "Social statistics – modernisation and coordination", "Methodological developments in cross-cutting domains" tel. (+352)
fax (+352)
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

14. Table A) 8+1 Dimensions of Quality of Life
Material living conditions
Productive and valued activities (including work)
Health
Education
Leisure and social interactions
Economic and physical safety
Governance and basic rights
Natural and living environment
8+1. Overall experience of life
Back to presentation
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

15. Table A.1: 1. Material living conditions
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

16. Table A.2: 2. Productive and valued activities (including work)
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

17. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
Table A.3: 3. Health
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

18. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
Table A.4: 4. Education
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

19. Table A.5: 5. Leisure and social interactions
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

20. Table A.6: 6. Economic and physical safety
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

21. Table A.7: 7. Governance and basic rights
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

22. Table A.8: 8. Natural and living environment
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

23. Table A.9: 8+1. Overall experience of life
Back to Table a) Dimensions
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

24. Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics
Contact
Jean Louis Mercy
European Commission - DG ESTAT Head of Unit F4 "Qality of Life" tel. (+352)
fax (+352) 4301
Miguel Guigó
European Commission - DG ESTAT Unit F1 "Social statistics – modernisation and coordination", Methodological developments in cross-cutting domains" tel. (+352)
fax (+352)
Thank you !
Luxembourg, 4-5 March
Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics