Barometers of Quality of Life Around the Globe: How Are We Doing? (Social Indicators Research Series (33))

"Quality of life (QOL) research has made great strides since the social indicator movement started as a scientific enterprise in the 1960s. Following the lead of pioneers in North America and Europe, social scientists in other regions of the world have adopted and refined social data systems or barometers to monitor progress in enhancing the welfare and well-being of citizens. A distinctive feature of these barometers is that they measure both individual and societal quality of life. While not overlooking the more basic needs and material standards of living, the barometers also inform on issues of individual freedoms and choices and constraints on citizen empowerment that enhance and depress quality of life. Designed to capture nuances in local definitions of the good life, regional barometers are unique expressions of the obstacles facing different societies in their quest to achieve the good life. Scholars of public policy as well as policy makers will find inspiration from reviews of innovative initiatives to monitor contemporary quality of life in six regions of the world spanning South America, the Arctic, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia." -- Prové de l'editor Social indicators inform citizens and governments alike on progress in society. The past decade has seen the birth of regional social barometers designed to monitor quality of life in all corners of the globe. Social scientists from different societal backgrounds have developed sets of indicators to guide policy in promoting citizen welfare and to monitor progress in achieving social goals. In many cases, this has been a team effort engaging policy makers and citizens. The contributions to this book span quality-of-life assessments on six continents ranging from the Arctic in the far north to down-under Australia in the south. Of interest to both social scientists and policy makers, regional barometers reflect local nuances that capturing the essence of well-being under very different living conditions and in tune with popular expectations of the good life. The authors, all experts from different regions of the world, sketch the survey or surveys that serve as quality-of-life barometers in their part of the world. They share with us the most fascinating trends they have observed in survey results in the new millennium. Cover......Page 1 Barometers of Quality of Life Around the Globe......Page 2 Social Indicators Research Series Volume 33......Page 3 ISBN: 1402086857......Page 5 Preface......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 Contributors......Page 11 Introduction: An Overview of the Larger View......Page 14 European Survey Data: Rich Sources for Quality of Life Research......Page 22 Two Decades of Social Weather Reporting in the Philippines......Page 43 Monitoring Democratic Politics, a Market Economy, and CitizenWell-Being: The South Korea Barometer......Page 57 Measuring Quality of Life in Latin America: Some Insights from Happiness Economics and the Latinobarometro......Page 91 Survey of Living Conditions in the Arctic (SLiCA)......Page 127 Quality of Life Down-Under: The Australian UnityWellbeing Index......Page 155 The Material and Political Bases of Lived Poverty in Africa: Insights from the Afrobarometer......Page 180 The AsiaBarometer: Its Aim, Its Scope and Its Development......Page 205 Bibliography......Page 242 Index......Page 251 Introduction: An Overview Of The Larger View / Alex C. Michalos -- European Survey Data : Rich Sources For Quality Of Life Research / Heinz-herbert Noll -- Two Decades Of Social Weather Reporting In The Philippines / Mahar Mangahas, Linda Luz B. Guerrero -- Monitoring Democratic Politics, A Market Economy, And Citizen Well-being : The South Korea Barometer / Doh Chull Shin -- Measuring Quality Of Life In Latin America : Some Insights From Happiness Economics And The Latinobarometro / Carol Graham -- Survey Of Living Conditions In The Arctic (slica) / Jack Kruse ... [et Al.] -- Quality Of Life Down-under : The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index / Robert A. Cummins ... [et Al.] -- The Material And Political Bases Of Lived Poverty In Africa : Insights From The Afrobarometer / Robert Mattes -- The Asiabarometer : Its Aim, Its Scope And Its Development / Takashi Inoguchi, Seiji Fujii. Valerie Møller, Denis Huschka, Alex C. Michalos, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 221-232) And Index.