The Quality of Life in Confucian Asia: From Physical Welfare to Subjective Well-Being (Social Indicators Research Series, 40)

For the past three decades, Confucian Asia has been known as a region of wonders. More successfully than any other region in the world, it has expanded its national economies, and integrated those into the global economy. To the rest of the world, this region offers the lesson that poor countries, even with limited natural resources, can achieve rapid economic development and social modernization. To this day, policymakers and scholars have focused on the question of why Confucian Asia has prospered, while other regions have not. Consequently, little is known about how such economic expansion and globalization have affected the quality of citizens’ lives in the region. This volume, with quality of life in Confucian Asia as its main theme, is the first of its kind seeking to unravel the dynamics and sources of citizen well-being, and to analyze the problems of building nations of well-being in this region. 978-90-481-3482-3_1_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in Confucian Asia: From Physical Welfare to Subjective Well-being Confucian Asia’s Place in a Changing World Confucianism Societies The Notion of Quality of Life A Theoretical Model Organization Acknowledgments References 978-90-481-3482-3_2_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in China Abstract Life in China Geography and Climate Population Economy Politics Education Public Health Environment The Conceptual Model Sampling and Respondents Statistical Methods Lifestyles Family Life Access to Modern Utilities and Digital Technologies Religious and Spiritual Life Political Involvement National Identify and Global Life Standard of Living Trusting Others Value Priorities Value Priorities by Demographic Characteristics Global Assessments of Life Subjective Well-being by Demographic Characteristics Life Domain Satisfaction Life-domain Satisfaction by Demographic Characteristics Influences on Subjective Well-being Conclusion and Discussion High Levels of Subjective Well-Being in China Direct and Indirect Influences on Subjective Well-being Life Domain Satisfaction Relative Living Standard Marriage Predicting Future Change in Subjective Well-being in China Appendices References 978-90-481-3482-3_3_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in Japan Abstract Japan as a Place to Live Demographic Profile of Survey Respondents Lifestyles Value Priorities Global Assessment of Life Quality Specific Assessments of Life Quality Determinants of Global Quality of Life Summary and Conclusion Acknowledgements Appendix A Appendix B References 978-90-481-3482-3_4_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in South Korea Abstract Introduction: Characteristics of Korean Life Profile of Respondents Lifestyles Family Life Modern Life Religious Life Digital Life Global Life Value Priorities Important Life Circumstances Needs for Having, Relating and Being Global Assessment of Life Quality Happiness Enjoyment Achievement Overall Quality of Life Specific Assessments of Life Quality Life Domains Life Spheres Determinants of Global Quality of Life Bivariate Analysis Multivariate Analysis Conclusion References 978-90-481-3482-3_5_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in Hong Kong Abstract The Quality of Life in Hong Kong Demographic Profile of Respondents Lifestyles: Leading a Global, Digital, Secular and Diversified Life Subjective Identifications Patterns of Living and Eating Eating Habits Eating Ethnic Foods Extensive Use of Utilities in Hong Kong A Moderate to High Degree of Digitalization: Leading a Deepening Digital Life Global Life Secular Life Political Life Perceived Standard of Living Value Priorities Overall Quality of Life Satisfaction with Life Domains Determinants of Life Quality Interpretation of Regressions of Determinants on Subjective Well-being Overall Discussion on Determinants of Subjective Wellbeing Conclusion Practical Implications of this Research for Hong Kong Theoretical Implications Appendix I References 978-90-481-3482-3_6_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in Singapore Abstract Introduction: Singapore as a Place to Live General Demographics and Human Development Economic Development, Governance and Stability Political Rights and Civil Liberties Global Connections Concluding Remarks Profile of Respondents Lifestyles Language and National Identification Household Composition and Home Ownership Dining Habits Access to Utilities Usage of Electronic Communication Technologies (Digital Life Index) Openness and Interaction with Others (Global Life Index) Degree of Secularization (Spirituality Index) Political Involvement Standard of Living Priorities in Life Needs for Having, Being and Relating Overall Quality of life: Happiness, Enjoyment and Achievement Levels of Happiness by Demographic Groups Levels of Enjoyment by Demographic Groups Levels of Achievement by Demographic Groups Satisfaction with Life Domains Satisfaction Analysis by Demographic Groups Dissatisfaction Analysis by Demographic Groups Determinants of the Overall Quality of Life Conclusion: Key Findings and their Policy Implications Key Findings Policy Implications Healthcare Accessibility and Costs Home Ownership Jobs and Economic Well-Being Family Focus and Other Relationships Costs of Living Sense of Belonging Conclusion References 978-90-481-3482-3_7_OnlinePDF.pdf The Quality of Life in Taiwan Abstract Introduction Geography and Population History and Democracy Economy Political Dilemmas Faced by Taiwanese Purpose of the Study The Respondents Lifestyles Lifestyle and Standard of Living Utilities Religion Political and Social Involvement Foreign Experiences and Self-Identity Value Priorities The Five Value Dimensions Overall Quality of Life Life Domain Assessments and Their Relationships with Overall QOL Five Life-Domain Spheres Determinants of the Overall Quality of Life Conclusion Key Findings Daily Life Value Priorities Overall Quality of Life Quality of Life at Domain Levels The Determinants of QOL Policy Implications Material and Objective Aspect Nonmaterial and Subjective Aspects Attitude Toward Politics and Interpersonal Trust References 978-90-481-3482-3_8_OnlinePDF.pdf Avowed Happiness in Confucian Asia: Ascertaining its Distribution, Patterns, and Sources Abstract Previous Research The Notion of Happiness Accounts of Happiness Measurements Levels of Happiness The Distribution of Happiness Conceptions of Happiness The Essentiality of Components Sources of Happiness Summary and Conclusions References