1. 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
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2. 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)
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3. 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
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4. 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)
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5. 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.
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. Satisfaction with life in general EU 27, 2003-2009
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9. Perceived tension between racial & ethnic groups EU27, 2007-2009
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10. Change in trust in national parliament EU27, 2007-2009
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11. 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
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