26.11.2007 1

QUALITY OF LIFE IN EUROPEQUALITY OF LIFE IN EUROPE--

Concept, measurement and findings from the firstConcept, measurement and findings from the firstpan-European survey on quality of life (EQLS)pan-European survey on quality of life (EQLS)

Dr. Branislav Mikulic, European Foundation -DublinDr. Branislav Mikulic, European Foundation -Dublin

Brusslels 19-11-2007

26.11.2007 2

Foundation’s concept of quality of life: main featuresFoundation’s concept of quality of life: main features

QoL and QoW are high on the UE social policy agenda

Departure point is policy objective of enabling people, as far as possible,to achieve their own goals in the society they are living in

Features of the concept

� Quality of life refers to individuals’ life situation (micro perspective)

� Quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept

� Quality of life is measured by objective as well as subjective indicators

� European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS): a unique source of data for monitoring quality of lifein an international perspective

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Domains of Quality of LifeDomains of Quality of Life

(Core domains)� Economic resources� Health and health care� Employment and working conditions� Families and households� Work-life balance� Community life and social participation� Knowledge, education and training� Subjective well being (happiness, life satisfaction , domain

satisfaction)� Housing and local environment� Public safety and crime� Recreation and leisure activities� Culture and identity, political resources and human rights,

including the European dimension

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Foundation’s concept of quality of life: main featuresFoundation’s concept of quality of life: main features

� Quality of life refers to individuals’ life situation (micro perspective)

� Quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept

� Quality of life is measured by objective as well as subjectiveindicators

� European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS): a unique source of datafor monitoring quality of life in an international perspective

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GDP per capita (PPS)GDP per capita (PPS) : Relative position of the countries (EU=100) : Relative position of the countries (EU=100)(Source: European Commission 2004)(Source: European Commission 2004)

130.1

44.5

58.2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Turk

ey

Rom

ania

Bul

garia

.

Latv

ia

Lith

uani

a

Est

onia

Pol

and

Slo

vaki

a

Hun

gary .

Cze

ch R

ep

Gre

ece

Mal

ta

Slo

veni

a

Por

tuga

l

Cyp

rus

Spa

in .

Sw

eden U

K

Fran

ce

Ger

man

y

Italy

Finl

and

Bel

gium

Net

herla

nds

Aus

tria

Irela

nd

Den

mar

k

Luxe

mbo

urg

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Subjective well-being: life satisfaction and happinessSubjective well-being: life satisfaction and happiness

Economic resources and standard of living have strong impact onEconomic resources and standard of living have strong impact onsubjective well being.subjective well being.

However, there are other factors such as cultural, political andHowever, there are other factors such as cultural, political andsocial ones pay also important role in determining peoples lifesocial ones pay also important role in determining peoples lifesatisfaction and happiness.satisfaction and happiness.

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Subjective well-being: Life satisfaction andSubjective well-being: Life satisfaction andhappiness (scale 1-10)happiness (scale 1-10)

6.9

7.6

6.6

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

Average NMS 10 Average EU 15 Average CC 3

Overall lifesatisfactionHappiness

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Subjective well-being: life satisfaction and happinessSubjective well-being: life satisfaction and happiness

Lower level of standard of living, poor working conditions, jobLower level of standard of living, poor working conditions, jobinsecurity, difficulties in balancing work-and life and lower qualityinsecurity, difficulties in balancing work-and life and lower qualityof society have impact on subjective well being are strongof society have impact on subjective well being are strongexplanatory factors for the level of subjective well-being.explanatory factors for the level of subjective well-being.

However, there are other factors (cultural, political and social)However, there are other factors (cultural, political and social)which play also important role in determining peoples lifewhich play also important role in determining peoples lifesatisfaction and happiness.satisfaction and happiness.

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GDP (in PPP) and happiness score, 2003, 28 countries

IREFINAUTSWEESPCYP BEUK NLGERGR

CZRO

HU

LATLIT

ESTPL

ITFR

PT

SKTK

MT LUX

DK

SLO

BG

R2 = 0.7045

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 50000

GDP per capita (in PPP) 2001

Hap

pine

ss s

core

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10000.00 20000.00 30000.00 40000.00 50000.00

GDP

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00S

atis

fact

ion

with

life

AustriaBelgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

GermanyUK

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

LatviaLithuania

Luxembourg

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Portugal

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Future EF work on well-being indicatorsFuture EF work on well-being indicators

� Subjective QOL index (composite index based on the domains’satisfaction figures)

� Weights for the index components (importance of domains)

� Sensitivity analysis of the QOL index (the index vs. income and non-monetary indicators)

� Measuring capabilities and opportunities for achieving personal goalsand objectives (developing additional subjective indicators plusobjective indicators)

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Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.