Measuring Quality of life in Rural Europe

A Review of Conceptual Foundationswrite by Peter Kaufamann, Sigrid Stangl, Katarzyna Zawalińska, Jerzy Michalek

Presented by Mariana Gálová

Measuring quality of life is an important element by development of regions

It helps to raise living standart of inhabitant and shows some deficieces which shoud be improve

there are some problems exist with measuring of quality

The base problem is use an approach, which is the most suitable

highlighting advantages and disadvantages of individual approaches in the European Union

BASIC TERMS

Quality of life – important element in the development of regions, and many policies aim to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants.

Rural indicators – are used by measuring of quality of life in rural regions, often linked with the social, economic and enviroment

Policy monitoring – quality of life respond to policy goal in rural region, directly influece development of specific area

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY

Based on the notion of utility Focus rational individuals on maximise their

utility through an optimal combination of goods bought from their income

Problems by trying applied this theory from individual to the societal level ( aggregation must be taken as one person)

As an indicator is used Index of economic well-being (similar to GDP)

IEWB differentiate between welfare for current and future generation

WELFARE APPROACH

IEWB has four basic domains, which create it: - effective per capita consumption flows

( marketed services and goods like GDP but add also externalities)

_ net societal accumulation of stock of productive resources - sustainability domain ( tangible, human capital, investment )

- income distribution ( intensity of powerty and inequality of income)

- economic of security ( financial support for illness, unemployment, family break- up...)

may lead to misleading conclusion, ´cause of data availability

Uses net national production (NNP) Count with manufactured (building,

machinery) , human (skills, health) and natural capital (minerals, water)

Problems - by accounting prices over time they are not tenable and also institutions are not included

Count with current situation and according to this makes prediction for future (negative investment in Afrika 2004)

CAPITAL APPROACH

Determinants of life satisfaction :-personality factors ( optimism, self-esteem)-socio-demographic factors (status,gender)-micro and macroeconomic factors (employment,

living conditions....) In generall satisfaction of people increase with

the growth of incomes ( in the way of representant )

Most important are personality factors, which predetermined ability of person to achieve target and face up to inequality (feeling)

DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF WELL BEING

Ill-being Base on fact that potential loses influence

people more than potencial gains Most common family solve problems as

deprivation, disadvantage, inequal income, powerty....

It´s a concept how to „not being unhappy“ People influence the most: income and

financial,employment, educational, health and housing disadvantage

OPPOSITES TO QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENT

Measuring absolute QoL in regions The decision of households to migrate is

influenced by living standart Base on probability better life in other

place, after takin into account all opportunity costs associated with the move

Migration rate in specific region is compar to migration rate in whole country

Percetage is indicator of quality of life in area

MIGRATION

Respect not only economy, but also social, political and cultural dimension

How to integrate non-market goods between individuals

Distinguishes between functionings (achievements) and capabilities (opportunity to choose)

Capabilities are more relevant, ´cause there are another factors like policy system, low..

Missing measure of inequality,social and enviromental area

CAPABILITY APPROACH

The distinction between commoditiecs and functionings in the capability approach

Focus on the natur ( base for social and economic being)

MILLENIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESMENT- measurement is problematic, relationship between ecosystem and human well-being isn´t linear

Differentiate between direct(factories) and indirect(globalisation) influence

Comprehensive measure of ecosystem between countries (quality of water, air, land, atmosphere)

Approaches Originating from the Sustainable Development Discussion

Involving many indicatorson different scales 68 indicators set by UK government Direct link between national policy and local

needs 44 indicators are calculated from local area

and involved nature resorces 20 indicators give an overwiew of

development specific country 4 indicators are individual

Scorecard approach by the UK Department for Enviroment, Forestry and Rural Affairs

Conceptual basic for QoL measurement was improved in recent years, but is still experimental

Measuring require a hybrid approach Outcome measures are mostly superior to the

input measures Only with involving natural resources we are

able to get optimal measurement of long-term social welfare

We shoud use informations from every area and make a balanced result

Conclusion

References

Thank you for your attention