[go: up one dir, main page]
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/tpr/glenvp/v20y2020i2p12-36.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Which Way Forward in Measuring the Quality of Life? A Critical Analysis of Sustainability and Well-Being Indicator Sets

Author

Listed:
  • Doris Fuchs
  • Bernd Schlipphak
  • Oliver Treib
  • Le Anh Nguyen Long
  • Markus Lederer
Abstract
The movement to develop indicators that provide a more nuanced view of quality of life (QoL) continues to gain momentum and support in both scientific and policy-making circles. However, measuring QoL still faces a number of challenges. While a range of indicator sets has been developed, it is unclear whether any of them is able to adequately capture the broad range of conditions it encompasses. In addition, it has yet to be determined whether different dimensions of QoL can be meaningfully integrated in one indicator or if separate indicators need to be employed alongside each other for clear and reliable scientific results and policy advice. In this article, we aim to contribute to answering these open questions. To that end, we offer a framework, grounded in the literatures on well-being and sustainable development, for unpacking the QoL concept, and categorize and evaluate different existing indicator sets in terms of their ability to measure this concept of QoL. Moreover, we identify the challenges involved in integrating two very distinct aspects of QoL in one indicator.

Suggested Citation

  • Doris Fuchs & Bernd Schlipphak & Oliver Treib & Le Anh Nguyen Long & Markus Lederer, 2020. "Which Way Forward in Measuring the Quality of Life? A Critical Analysis of Sustainability and Well-Being Indicator Sets," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(2), pages 12-36, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:20:y:2020:i:2:p:12-36
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/glep_a_00554
    Download Restriction: Access to PDF is restricted to subscribers.
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anand, Sudhir & Sen, Amartya, 2000. "Human Development and Economic Sustainability," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 2029-2049, December.
    2. Button, Kenneth, 2002. "City management and urban environmental indicators," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 217-233, February.
    3. Chuluun Togtokh, 2011. "Time to stop celebrating the polluters," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7373), pages 269-269, November.
    4. Hezri, Adnan A. & Dovers, Stephen R., 2006. "Sustainability indicators, policy and governance: Issues for ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 86-99, November.
    5. Lauri Peterson, 2014. "The Measurement of Non-economic Inequality in Well-Being Indices," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 581-598, November.
    6. Isabelle CASSIERS & Géraldine THIRY, 2014. "A High-Stakes Shift: Turning the Tide From GDP to New Prosperity Indicators," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2014002, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    7. Sudhir Anand & Paul Segal, 2008. "What Do We Know about Global Income Inequality?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 57-94, March.
    8. Lawn, Philip, 2013. "The failure of the ISEW and GPI to fully account for changes in human-health capital — A methodological shortcoming not a theoretical weakness," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 167-177.
    9. Sagar, Ambuj D. & Najam, Adil, 1998. "The human development index: a critical review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 249-264, June.
    10. Mona Ray, 2014. "Redefining the Human Development Index to Account for Sustainability," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 42(3), pages 305-316, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fernandez, Viviana, 2021. "Are extractive ventures more socio-environmentally committed?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    2. Dwyer, Larry, 2024. "Tourism Degrowth and Resident Well-being," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 12(3), pages 206-225.
    3. Larry Dwyer, 2022. "Productivity, Destination Performance, and Stakeholder Well-Being," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Larry Dwyer, 2023. "Why tourism economists should treat resident well-being more seriously," Tourism Economics, , vol. 29(8), pages 1975-1994, December.
    5. Larry Dwyer, 2024. "Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST): New Wine in an Old Bottle?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Silviu Nate & Yuriy Bilan & Danylo Cherevatskyi & Ganna Kharlamova & Oleksandr Lyakh & Agnieszka Wosiak, 2021. "The Impact of Energy Consumption on the Three Pillars of Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    7. Larry Dwyer, 2024. "‘Measuring What Matters’: Resident Well-Being and the Tourism Policy Cycle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Larry Dwyer, 2023. "Tourism Development to Enhance Resident Well-Being: A Strong Sustainability Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Comim, Flavio & Hirai, Tadashi, 2022. "Sustainability and Human Development Indicators: A Poset Analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    2. Ülengin, Füsun & Kabak, Özgür & Önsel, Sule & Aktas, Emel & Parker, Barnett R., 2011. "The competitiveness of nations and implications for human development," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 16-27, March.
    3. Eric Neumayer, 2004. "Sustainability and Well-being Indicators," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2004-23, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Stephen Morse, 2011. "Attracting Attention for the Cause. The Reporting of Three Indices in the UK National Press," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 101(1), pages 17-35, March.
    5. Vincenzo Marinello & Chiara Di Puma, 2020. "The Human Development Index: a critical evaluation and a new proposal," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 74(2), pages 29-38, April-Jun.
    6. Diogo Ferraz & Enzo B. Mariano & Daisy Rebelatto & Dominik Hartmann, 2020. "Linking Human Development and the Financial Responsibility of Regions: Combined Index Proposals Using Methods from Data Envelopment Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 439-478, July.
    7. Elisabete Nogueira & Sofia Gomes & João M. Lopes, 2022. "The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Saira Batool & Maryam M. Ali & Areeba Amer, 2020. "Analysis of Food Security in Pakistan Incorporating Various Trades of Life," International Journal of Agriculture & Sustainable Development, 50sea, vol. 2(4), pages 117-123, December.
    9. Hickel, Jason, 2020. "The sustainable development index: Measuring the ecological efficiency of human development in the anthropocene," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    10. Undp, 2011. "HDR 2011 - Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All," Human Development Report (1990 to present), Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), number hdr2011, September.
    11. Assa, Jacob, 2021. "Less is more: The implicit sustainability content of the human development index," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Umberto Lucia & Giulia Grisolia, 2021. "The Gouy-Stodola Theorem—From Irreversibility to Sustainability—The Thermodynamic Human Development Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, April.
    13. Joana Costa & Diana Cancela & João Reis, 2021. "Neverland or Tomorrowland? Addressing (In)compatibility among the SDG Pillars in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-18, November.
    14. Zhilong Qin & Hongli Zhang & Bin Zhao, 2023. "Impact of R&D Investment and Network Penetration on Human Development: Evidence from China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-25, June.
    15. Miller, Harvey J. & Witlox, Frank & Tribby, Calvin P., 2013. "Developing context-sensitive livability indicators for transportation planning: a measurement framework," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 51-64.
    16. Gürlük, Serkan, 2009. "Economic growth, industrial pollution and human development in the Mediterranean Region," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(8-9), pages 2327-2335, June.
    17. Stéphane Blancard & Jean-François Hoarau, 2011. "Optimizing the new formulation of the United Nations' human development index: An empirical view from data envelopment analysis," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 31(1), pages 989-1003.
    18. Ajay Chhibber, 2021. "Measuring Human Development for the Anthropocene," Working Papers 2021-06, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    19. Kaika, Dimitra & Zervas, Efthimios, 2013. "The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory. Part B: Critical issues," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1403-1411.
    20. Manfred Fehr, 2006. "A Successful Pilot Project of Decentralized Household Waste Management in Brazil," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 21-29, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:20:y:2020:i:2:p:12-36. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kelly McDougall (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://direct.mit.edu/journals .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.