Abstract
The equation of `more’ with `better’ – ofstandard of living with quality of life – is at theheart of a growing international debate aboutindicators of progress. At one level, the debate isabout the adequacy of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) asthe dominant indicator of national performance. However, the debate also reaches far beyond thisquestion to challenge conventional thinking aboutprogress. Quality of life includes both objective andsubjective elements, so indicators of progress shouldinclude measures of how people feel about their lives.Drawing mainly on Australian data – but also on USand international studies – this analysis examines anddifferentiates between subjective measures of personal and social quality of life, anddiscusses their use in evaluating whether life isgetting better – or worse.
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Eckersley, R. The State and Fate of Nations: Implications of Subjective Measures of Personal and Social Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research 52, 3–27 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007071621613
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007071621613