How to Measure the Quality of Life
You might think that it is impossible to measure the quality of life. If you visit the richest countries in the world you'll still hear negative news. People might be rushing around and not even look happy. There are a few statistics that you can use to find a subjective analysis of how people are doing depending on where they live. Here is how to measure the quality of life.
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Instructions
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Measure the Quality of Life
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Read the United Nations' "Human Development Report." This is an annual digest that measures the quality of life. Each country is then assigned a number. The countries are judged by only three criteria: purchasing power, life expectancy and education. Keep in mind that the countries are measured against one another. It's like being graded on a curve. For this reason it can be difficult to measure your country against itself.
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Do the math yourself. You might want to measure the quality of life using more than the three categories used in the "Human Development Report." You can also access the standards of living for each country. This data can include anything from how many telephones there are per thousand people to the infant mortality rate. Just be aware that what you value will be different than what other people value. Your compilation of data might not be universally agreed with.
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Give surveys. This will help you measure the quality of life in your community. You might need to know how people are doing on a smaller scale instead of by country. This is especially important if you are a politician or hold a local office. It can even help you decide what issues to focus on during your campaign. Dispatch pollsters to give out surveys at random. You probably won't need to ask people if they can read, so focus on things that affect the general public where you live. These could include questions about if people have health insurance and quality daycare. Be aware that many people won't be comfortable answering questions that are too probing or personal.
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Put an email link on your website or a local forum where people can email you their stories. You'll be able to get a broader view of how the unemployment rate is affecting your town. This won't be hard data, but it's an inexpensive way to get an overall feeling of the quality of life where you live.
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Analyze your personal quality of life. You might be feeling down and feeling like your life is depressing. When you make a list of all the advantages you have over people in other countries, it can change your perspective. You can also write semi-annual reports in the form of a journal or blog. This way you'll be able to assess what you need to change in your own life. It will also give you an opportunity to judge how your life has changed since your last report.
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Separate the idea of quality of life from happiness. When you measure the quality of life you might make some assumptions from the data. You might think that life is better in a country that ranks high in the "Human Development Report." The World Database of Happiness makes a compilation of the happiest countries each year. They do this by measuring life expectancy against a survey where they ask people if they are happy. From 2000 to 2008 Iceland, Switzerland and Denmark ranked in the top three.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Victoria Peckham
