1. The European Social Model and Quality of Life
Robert Anderson
Head of Living Conditions and Quality of Life Unit, Eurofound
Visit of European Parliament Delegation:
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Dublin, 17 May 2011
19/02/2019

2. Elements of the European Social Model
“characterised in particular by systems that offer a high level of social protection, by the importance of social dialogue and by services of general interest vital for social cohesion. … based… on a common core of values” (Presidency Conclusions of the Nice European Council, 2000)
Common values: ‘pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men’ (Official Journal of the European Union, 2004)
Taken from Alber 2006
19/02/2019

3. European Quality of Life Survey
Key characteristics:
Considers quality of life in terms of the overall level of well-being of individuals
Assessed in terms of outcomes and experiences (objective), but also views about and preferences for 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 local environment, trust and solidarity.
19/02/2019

4. Quality of society concept
Quality of Life reflects the scope individuals have to actively and consciously direct their own lives
The nature of an individual’s relationship with others in their household, their community and beyond, as well with institutions and policies, are fundamental influences on quality of life
The resources and opportunities open to people include collective as well as individual resources: notably social provision in areas such as education, health care, housing and social services
Eurofound (2003) Monitoring Quality of Life in Europe.
19/02/2019

5. Survey methodology Representative household survey of people 18+
Interviews Sept-Dec 2003; Sept-Dec 2007; Sept 2009/10 (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%+)
Next survey in September 2011
19/02/2019

6. Average European evaluation of public services by type of service
19/02/2019

7. Source: EQLS 2007
19/02/2019

8. Relationship between public expenditure and quality of public services, by country
19/02/2019

9. Life satisfaction, by perceived quality of public services, country and country group
19/02/2019

10. Life satisfaction, by trust in institutions, country and country group
19/02/2019

11. Satisfaction with life in general: EU 27, 2003-2010
19/02/2019

12. Change in trust in national government, 2007 to 2010
19/02/2019

13. Social capital: trust in people, 2003 to 2010
19/02/2019

14. Policy pointers
May be one European Social model, but large differences between countries in perception of the quality of society – varying somewhat across different dimensions.
Quality of society – measured in terms of both perceived quality of public services and trust in institutions – is significantly associated with life satisfaction.
Social inequalities – particularly income differences – are consistently related to assessments of both the quality of society and well-being
Implication for distribution of resources, but also for organisation of services and public policies to help disadvantaged groups.
19/02/2019

15. In Conclusion
Need indicators of individual quality of life, but also of societal well-being and social cohesion
Indicators must be 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 especially groups at risk of exclusion and look at change beyond the individual in level – in the family/household, community and society
19/02/2019