Qol Finale

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

1/70

School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORSA Monograph

World Environment Day 2009

ENVIS Centre on Human Settlements

www.spaenvis.nic.in

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

2/70

Quality of Life Indicators

ENVIS Centre on Human Settlement- Department Of Environmental Planning, SPA, New Delhi Page II

Monograph on

QUALITY OF LIFEINDICATORS

Department of Environmental Planning

School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

3/70


ENVIS Centre on Human Settlement- Department Of Environmental Planning, SPA, New Delhi Page 1

Executive Summary

The terms, such as social well-being, social welfare, and human development are often used as equivalent or

analogous terms. Quality of Life (QOL) is seen as the product of the interaction of a number of different factors --social, health, economic, and environmental conditions -- which cumulatively, and often in unknown ways, interact to

affect both human and social development at the level of individuals and societies. It is the "the notion of human

welfare (well-being) measured by social indicators rather than by ""quantitative"" measures of income and

production." (United Nations Glossary 2009).

One of the most popular aggregate measures of the quality of life is the individual estimation of one's

happiness. Aristotle in Etica nicomahica used for the first time the term eudaimonia, Greek for

happiness. Russell (1930) elaborated the concept of happiness as a relative sense of joy that varied fromone culture to another and also from one individual to another. In the country of Bhutan, Gross National

Happiness (GNH) is the main index for defining the quality of life in a more holistic and psychological term.

The Social Indicators Movement in 1960s brought about a new impetus in QOL assessment with indicators

such as; public educational, social, ecological programs were initiated, and quantitative indicators to

measure their success (or failure) were of great need. Two types of the quality of life measures, or

indicators, are distinguished, namely, subjective and objective ones. So, each of the mentioned properties

and measures, being expressed via a system of statistic indicators, should then be integrated into a

measure of the overall quality of life.

Some international frameworks and methodology have set the foundation for QOL indicator research.

These include:

United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, 1976

Habitat Agenda- Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, 1996

Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, 2001

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2001

State of the Worlds Cities 2008/2009- Harmonious Cities

United Nations Human Development Index

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

4/70



Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index

The highest level QOL study, and perhaps the best known, is the United Nations Human Development

Report which was developed by the Human Development Report Office in 1990 and has been

subsequently developed into what is regarded as one of the best studies on quality of life. The cornerstone

of the report is the Human Development Index (HDI). The Human Development approach arose in part as a

result of growing criticism to the leading development approach of the 1980s, which presumed a close link

between national economic growth and the expansion of individual human choices.

The HDI combines three basic dimensions: life expectancy at birth, knowledge and education and standard

of living. On a global scale, The 2005 HDI highlights the very large gaps in well-being and life chances that

continue to divide our increasingly interconnected world. By looking at some of the most fundamental

aspects of peoples lives and opportunities it provides a much more complete picture of a country's

development than other indicators, such as GDP per capita. Since the mid-1970s almost all regions have

been progressively increasing their HDI score. The major exception is sub-Saharan Africa and other war-

torn countries. Since 1990 it has stagnated, partly because of economic reversal but principally because of

the catastrophic effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy and war.

The United Nations have recognized the limitation of the HDI, as it do not cover all aspect of human

development, hence other composite indices have subsequently been developed. These include: gender-

related development index (GDI), a gender empowerment measure (GEM), a human poverty index (HPI),

and a technological achievement index (TAI), Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW), Genuine

Progress Indicator (GPI), Gross National Happiness (GNH) and Sustainable National Income (SNI) are

used.

The Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index is based on a unique methodology that links the

results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys to the objective determinants of quality of life across countries.

The index was calculated in 2005 and includes data from 111 countries and territories. Economist

Intelligence Units quality of life index (India is ranked 73 of 111 countries at 5.759). The survey uses nine

quality of life factors to determine a nation's score.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

5/70

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

6/70



The purpose of the report was to provide information that contributes to the understanding of social,

economic and environmental conditions which can be used to describe and quantify the quality of life of

those living in New Zealands major urban areas. The Canadian Policy Research Networks Citizens

Report card highlighted eleven (11) indicators for their QOL study. The Report Card is the outcome of the

Quality of Life Indicators Project, which brought together 350 Canadians in 40 different dialogue groups in

21 towns and cities across Canada to produce a prototype set of quality of life indicators.

Since independence, India has paved the way through democracy for social development. India has been

implementing national strategies and plans through Five Year Plans (F.Y.P.), various multi-faceted

development schemes and programmes. These programmes, backed by large human and financial

resources, have been successful in achieving the predetermined goals in the areas of sustained economic

growth, education, health, sanitation, housing and employment, as well as other related fields, so that

minimum needs are duly taken care of and a decent standard of life attained. The Eighth Plan (1992-1997)

had identified "human development" as its main focus. During this plan period, the indicators of social

development have shown a significant improvement. 1995-96 witnessed a very satisfactory growth rate in

GDP of 7.1 per cent. The momentum of growth has been maintained in 1996-1997, thus providing

increasing evidence that the growth potential has improved as a result of the processes of deregulation and

globalization initiated by the government.

The HDI for India is 0.619, which gives the country a rank of 128 th out of 177 countries. The combine

factors of Life expectancy at birth (63.7%), adult literacy rate (64.15) and GDP per capita 93452), have

been used to calculate the GDP value.

The Human Poverty Index for developing countries (HPI-1) focuses on the proportion of people below a

threshold level in the same dimensions of human development as the human development index - living a

long and healthy life, having access to education, and a decent standard of living. By looking beyond

income deprivation, the HPI-1 represents a multi-dimensional alternative to the $1 a day (PPP US$)

poverty measure. The HPI-1 value of 31.3 for India, ranks 62 nd among 108 developing countries for which

the index has been calculated.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

7/70



The HDI measures average achievements in a country, but it does not incorporate the degree of gender

imbalance in these achievements. The gender-related development index (GDI), introduced in Human

Development Report 1995, measures achievements in the same dimensions using the same indicators as

the HDI but captures inequalities in achievement between women and men. It is simply the HDI adjusted

downward for gender inequality. The greater the gender disparity in basic human development, the lower is

a country's GDI relative to its HDI. India's GDI value, 0.600 should be compared to its HDI value of 0.619.

Its GDI value is 96.9% of its HDI value. Out of the 156 countries with both HDI and GDI values, 137

countries have a better ratio than India's.

As a result of past emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), the world is

now on course for future climate change. With 17.4% of the world's population, India accounts for 4.6% of

global emissions - an average of 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per person. India has signed and ratified the Kyoto

Protocol. As a non-Annex I Party to the Protocol but is not bound by specific targets for greenhouse gas

emissions.

At the moment, India is among the countries of low level of urbanization. The big cities attained inordinately

large population size leading to virtual collapse in the urban services and followed by basic problems in the

field of housing, slum, water, infrastructure, quality of life etc. In India the quality of life between rural and

urban areas are different. Their life in many cases is worse than life in rural areas. This creates law andorder and varied health problems. In other words, urban areas show a much better profile than rural areas

in relation to quality of life.

In designing an assessment of QOL, the goal should be to create a tool that will capture the weighting that is being

used by a particular person (or group of persons) at a particular time and place. In order to achieve this, useful

population samples are needed to empirically identify and define the weights. QOL measures represent a

snapshot in time. It is understood that any measurement data used for predictive purposes would need to

be collected over sufficiently long time periods to successfully capture or model the co-evolution of humanswith their environment and develop an effective knowledge base. Weightings will fluctuate as a result of

intentional as well as unconscious manipulation by individuals through re-evaluation strategies, such as

social comparisons, and through goal attainment.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

8/70



Preface

In 1990, the leading ethnographer, Robert Edgerton suggested that the term Quality of Life (QOL) was the

Shibbolethof the 1990s (1990; 149). The term Shibboleth implies not only the importance of the concept

but also the contentious nature of the field and the potential upshot of QOL research. In public life and

social sciences, the notion of QOL has come- since the 1960s- to be a routinely invoked concept. The term

appears in the discussion of everything from the relative liveability of towns, cities, and nations to the aims

and effects of social policy, to the relative benefits of differing models of human services provision.

This does not suggest that questions about what constitutes a life of quality, or what the characteristics,

properties or attributes of such a life might be only begun in the 1960s. As Socrates famously noted, the

unexamined life is one unworthy of living (Plato, 1903).

This monograph is divided into four chapters: Chapter one- Introduction offers a critical overview of the

key philosophical and conceptual issues; Chapter two- Quality of Life indicators, provides an overview of

key international methodology and different frameworks that have set the foundation for quality of life

research and which have highlighted quality of life issues for further investigation; Chapter three-

International Scenarios, provides an overview of current development status of nations of the world, with

special examination of War torn countries and two developed countries- Canada and New Zealand who

have done QOL studies at a country level; Chapter four- Indias Scenario, examine the status of QOL in

India using international methodological frameworks such as Human Development Index (HDI), Human

Poverty Index, Gender Development Index (GDI) and fighting climate change. Urbanization in India is also

highlighted and its impact on QOL in the urban area.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

9/70



Contents

Page No.

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 1

Preface .................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Acknowledgement .............................................................................................................................................. 13

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 15

1.1 Definition............................................................................................................................................................ 15

1.2 Origin of the Concept ........................................................................................................................................ 16

1.3 Objective Versus Subjective ............................................................................................................................ 17

2.0 QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS ................................................................................................................... 21

2.1 International Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 21

2.2.1 United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948...................................................... 21

2.2.2 Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements .......................................................................... 21

2.2.3 Habitat Agenda ..................................................................................................................... 22

2.2.4 Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium ................................ ... 25

2.2.5 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ................................................................................... 25

2.2.6 State of the Worlds Cities 2008/2009- Harmonious Cities ......................................................... 27

2.2.7United Nations Human Development Index................................................................................... 28

2.2.8 Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index ........................................................................ 32

3.0 CURRENT INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO ............................................................................................... 36

3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 36

3.2 Categorization of Countries .............................................................................................................................. 36

3.3 Quality of Life Characteristics .......................................................................................................................... 38

3.4 Quality of life in Wartorn Nations.............................................................................................. 40

3.5.1 Indicator Selection Criteria ............................................................................................................................... 44

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

10/70



3.6 Quality of Life in Canada A Citizens Report Card ................................................................................... 48

1. Housing................................................................................................................................... 49

2.

Accessibility to Services............................................................................................................. 49

3. Environmental Quality................................................................................................................ 49

4. Household Finances.................................................................................................................. 49

5. Employment/Paid Work.............................................................................................................. 49

6. Social Opportunity and Mobility ................................................................................................... 49

7. Participation in Democratic Processes.......................................................................................... 49

Percentage of the population that participated in the 1997 elections (direct) ....................................... 49

8. Social Stability .......................................................................................................................... 49

9. Education ................................................................................................................................ 50

10. Access to Health Resources ................................................................................................... 50

11. Leisure and Recreation .......................................................................................................... 50

4.0 INDIA CONTEXT ..................................................................................................................................... 52

4.1 Overview............................................................................................................................................................ 52

4.2 HDI India............................................................................................................................................................ 53

4.3 Human poverty in India: focusing on the most deprived in multiple dimensions of poverty ......................... 55

4.4 Building the Capabil ities of women .................................................................................................................. 56

4.5 Fighting Climate Change .................................................................................................................................. 56

4.6 India Urbanization and Quality of Life .............................................................................................................. 58

5.0 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 63

6.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 67

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

11/70



List of Maps Page No.

Map 1: World map indicating Human Development Index (2008 Update). ..................................................... 32

Map 2: World map showing the Economist Intelligence Units Quality of Life Scores. ................................... 34

Map 5: Categorization of Countries by Income Groups ................................................................................... 37

Map 6: Human Development Index for India by state 2001. ............................................................................ 58

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

12/70



List of Tables Page No.

Table 1: Economist Intelligence Units QOL Reference Tables. .................................................................... 33

Table 2: Health care Scenario in Iraq (Source: various Sources) ................................................................... 42

Table 3: Content of Monthly Ration per HH (Source: Various Sources) ......................................................... 43

Table 4: Table 1: Indias human development index 2005. ............................................................................. 53

Table 5: Selected indicators of human poverty for India. ................................................................................. 55

Table 6: The GDI compared to the HDI a measure of gender disparity. ...................................................... 56

Table 7: Carbon Dioxide Emissions (http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/statistics/) ................................................... 57

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

13/70



List of Figures Page No.

Figure 1: Quality of life Definition and Parameters. .......................................................................................... 15

Figure 2: Four main Aspects of Happiness from philosophic and Scientific Literature................................... 16

Figure 3: Subjective Well-Being ........................................................................................................................ 18

Figure 4: Objective Quality of Life ..................................................................................................................... 18

Figure 5: Human Development Index 2008 ...................................................................................................... 31

Figure 6: Distribution of Countries Based on Stages of Development. ........................................................... 38

Figure 7: Electricity Situation in Iraq. ................................................................................................................. 41

Figure 8: Security Forces in Iraq ....................................................................................................................... 42

Figure 9: Average Monthly Salary in Iraq .................................................................................................... 43

Figure 10: Comparison of NZ Social Wellbeing with OECD Countries. .......................................................... 44

Figure 11: Shows the development priority taken in New Zealand, integrating environment, equity and

economy to achieve quality of life. .................................................................................................................... 45

Figure 12: India HDI compared with GDP per capita) ...................................................................................... 54

Figure 13: HDI trends 1975-2007, compared with other countries ................................................................. 54

Figure 14: Process of Urbanization in India. ..................................................................................................... 59

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

14/70



List of Plates Page No

Plate 1: Organized vs. disorganized method of SWM in Developed and Developing Countries. .................................. 39

Plate 2: Children carrying Water from River in Iraq (Source: unicef.org) ........................................................................ 41

Plate 3: Cross-cultural diversity of Canadian Society (Source: Quality of Life report card Canada). ............................ 48

Plate 4: provision of a Healthy environment is conducive for improving the quality of life of a country......................... 50

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

15/70



Acknowledgement

We take this opportunity to express our thanks to the ENVIS Programme of the Ministry of Environment

and Forests, Government of India for the support and encouragement for preparing this monograph. In

particular, we like to record our sincere thanks to Dr. S. P. Sharma, Statistical Advisor and ENVIS

Coordinator for his enthusiastic suggestions for preparation of this monograph.

We record our sincere thanks to Prof Ranjit Mitra, Director and Prof A.K. Sharma, Dean of Studies, as well

as staff members of the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi for extending their kind

cooperation, enabling us to prepare the document in a short span of time.

Ms. Rina Surana, doctoral scholar registered at the department of Environmental Planning offered useful

inputs from time to time that improved the quality of the monograph. Shri Garfield Hunter, student of M.

Planning (Environmental) 2008-2010 spent long hours to make significant contribution towards preparation

and completion of this document. Shri Bhuwan Chander, Data Entry Operator contributed by organizing

the final printing of the monograph.

We record our heartfelt thanks to all of them and others who indirectly contributed in preparing this

document.

In spite of our efforts, errors that might have crept into this monograph may please be overlooked by the

readers.

Shovan K. Saha, Coordinator

Meenakshi Dhote, Jt. Coordinator

05th June, 2009

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

16/70



CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

17/70



1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definition

There does not appear to be one generally accepted definition of Quality of Life (QOL) in the extensiveliterature which has been generated on this subject over the past thirty years. Moreover other terms,

such as social well-being, social welfare, and human development are often used as equivalent or

analogous terms. For example, as noted, the UN Human Development Index is often described as

measuring QOL. Generally, however, QOL is seen as the product of the interaction of a number of

different factors -- social, health, economic, and environmental conditions -- which cumulatively, and

often in unknown ways, interact to affect both human and social development at the level of individuals

and societies. It is the "the notion of human welfare (well-being) measured by social indicators rather

than by ""quantitative""

measures of income and

production." (United Nations

Glossary 2009).

The term Quality of Life"

relates to the description

and evaluation of the nature

or conditions of life of

people in a certain country

or region.

Figure 1: Quality of life

Definition and Parameters1.

Quality of life is formed by

exogenous factors, with respect to an individual or a social group, forces like production technology,

infrastructure, relations with other groups or countries, institutions of the society, natural environment,

and also by endogenous factors including interaction within the society and values of a person or a

1Sources: EuReport Working Paper No.9. Conceptual Framework and Structure of a Europe System of Social

Indicators

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

18/70



society. The effect of these factors is not necessarily constant over time; for instance, environmental

issues were paid relatively small attention a century ago while today ecology is undoubtedly one of the

main people's concerns, and information technologies penetrating each sphere of human existence

were not existent at that time at all.

1.2 Origin of the Concept

One of the most popular aggregate measures of the quality of life is the individual estimation of one's

happiness. The debates over quality of life and of what maximizes it started from the Antiquity; Aristotle

in Etica nicomahica used for the first time the term eudaimonia, Greek for happiness. Aristotle

argues that the highest good for human beings is happiness. He insists that every action performed by

humans is to pursue happiness. Aristotle also argues that human action is always aimed at some end

or good. This "good" may not be viewed as a good action or any good by others, but for the doer of the

good action, the activity will be perceived as good and that it will bring a favorable outcome2.

Bertrand Russell (1930) in his celebrated book the conquest of happiness elaborated the concept of

happiness as a relative sense of joy that varied from one culture to another and also from one individual

to another.

Modern approach, though, implies the accurate definition of the terms and construction of models for

the applicable fields of study. According to this scheme,3 four main aspects of happiness are inferred

from the philosophic and scientific literature:

Figure 2: Four main Aspects of Happiness from philosophic and Scientific Literature

2 See Aristotle's Psychology, By Prof. Daniel N. Robinson. (1999). Published by Daniel N. Robinson. ISBN-10: 096720660XISBN-13: 978-09672066083 D. C. Shin and D. M. Johnson. Avowed happiness as an overall assessment of the quality of life. Social IndicatorsResearch, 5, 1978, 475492.

HAPPINESS

POSSESSION(Epicurism)

COMPARING PASTEXPERIENCE(Modern Sociology)

SATISFACTION OFNEED

(Utilitarism)

SELF-REALIZATION(Eudemonism)

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

19/70



Happiness here is defined as the degree to which an individual judges the overall quality of her/his life

as-a-whole favorably." In the country of Bhutan, Gross National Happiness (GNH) is the main index for

defining the quality of life in a more holistic and psychological term.

While all other countries focused on economic growth as the ultimate objective, Bhutans King Jigme

Singye Wangchuck 1972, in response to criticisms that the country was economically poor build its

economy that would serve the countrys unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values. GNH is

based on the premise that human societys true development would take place when material and

spiritual development occur side by side in complementing and reinforcing each other. The four pillars

of GNH are (1) promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, (2) preservation

and promotion of cultural values, (3) conservation of the natural environment, and (4) establishment of

good governance4.

The impetus to the development of the means of the quality of life assessment and evaluation was

given in 1960s owing to the Social Indicators Movement. In 1960s, public educational, social, ecological

programs were initiated, and quantitative indicators to measure their success (or failure) were of great

need. This movement, in turn, was brought about by a view in the society that life had in general

become worse though the standards of living were considerably improving. Two types of the quality of

life measures, or indicators, are distinguished, namely, subjective and objective ones. Also, expert

estimations which combine both subjective and objective approaches are also widely used.

1.3 Objective Versus Subjective

The subjective indicators reflect subjective evaluations of people's lives. They represent the micro level

of the quality of life data collected from the individual agents. The measurements of this kind are

essentially personal and based on the individuals perception of one's well-being and responses

obtained in sociologic surveys and investigations5. People are asked what they feel about their life, its

values, what they care about most, etc. The questionnaires can sometimes contain up to a hundred of

4Where Gross National Happiness is measured rather than GNP and GDP-August 13th, 2008

5 D. C. Shin and D. M. Johnson. Avowed happiness as an overall assessment of the quality of life. Social IndicatorsResearch, 5, 1978, 475492.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

20/70



questions. Also, these data can be collected during longitudinal investigations of the population6.

Subjective measures reflect both the real status of the quality of life, or the conditions of life in general,

and the attitude of the people toward these conditions, though the element of biased perception may

never be eliminated.

Figure 3: Subjective Well-Being

The aggregation of these subjective measures by statistical techniques and methods can help to

identify the values of society or different social groups. Eventually, such values graded according to

scale may serve as indicators of the intangible dimensions of QOL.

The objective quality of life

measures are built on the basis of

hard variables", i. e., the data from

the municipal or governmental

institutions and organizations

which may include financial

accounts, civil state records,

medical statistics, pollution levels,

and other pieces of factual

information gathered by theinstitutions routinely. This

approach aims at investigating the

6 Frank M. Andrews, Stephen B. Whitney. Social indicators of well-being. Plenum Press,New York, 1976

OBJECTIVE

QUALITY OF

LIFE

MATERIALWELFARE

QUALITY OF

ECOLOGY

QUALITY OF

POPULATION

QUALITY OFSOCIAL

SYSTEM

Figure 4: Objective Quality of Life

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

21/70



society as a whole by looking, in the most general sense, at the set of macroeconomic, social,

demographic indicators which determine the conditions of life and the way people live. As an objective

measure, the quality of life may be defined as an interrelation of the four determinants of the vital

functioning and activity of the population7

.

The hierarchical decomposition of every component can go down to the basic low-level characteristics

assessed by the statistical data or by expert estimation. For Example, the quality of population is

inferred from the population demographic structure, the reproductive process and marital behavior, the

physical, psychic, and moral health of the population as well as their educational level and proficiency.

The material welfare is determined by the standards of living, income differentiation, housing,

telecommunication, trade, education, culture, health system, mass media capacities. More simply,

parameters such as access to basic services (drinking water, sanitation etc.) and facilities (market,

park, bank etc) are needed to depict QOL of a community. The social system quality relies upon the

state and/or private provision in cases of the (permanent or temporary) disablement, citizens' rights for

education, employment, recreation, private property and personal protection, political system stability,

individual's inclusion to the social infrastructure, race and sex equality, social stability. The ecology

state is influenced by the state of air and water sources (surface and ground), the level of chemical,

radioactive, heavy metal pollution, etc. The list is far from being complete, and some items may be

related to more than one category8.

So, each of the mentioned properties and measures, being expressed via a system of statistic

indicators, should then be integrated into a measure of the overall quality of life. There can be no doubt

however, that QOL of a community or a social group or a nation for that matter is determined by the

common members or citizens who are largest in number. Thus a balanced combination of the major

aspects contributing to a QOL statement would be required. Further, though the set of parameters and

their respective benchmarks may vary according to the inherent character of the community, for

comparability across communities, a global set would be useful.

7 Angus Campbell, Philip E. Converse, Willard L. Rodgers. The quality of American life, Russell Sage Foundation, NewYork, 1976.

8 A. Bowling. Measuring Health. Open University Press, 1991.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

22/70



CHAPTER 2

QUALITY OF LIFE

INDICATORS

Biological Factors

Symptoms

Treatment

Physical Functioning

Emotions

Social Support

Family relationships

Spiritual/religious beliefs

Community Involvement

Environment

Work

Finance

Leisure

Shelter

QOL

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

23/70



2.0 QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS

2.1 International Overview

2.2.1 United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, provides an excellent list

of factors that can be considered in evaluating quality of life. It includes many things that citizens of the

United States and other developed countries take for granted, but that are not available in a significant

number of countries around the world. Although this declaration is 60 years old, in many ways it still

represents an ideal to be achieved rather than a baseline state of affairs.

Factors that may be used to measure quality of life include the following:

freedom from slavery and torture equal protection of the law

freedom from discrimination

freedom of movement

freedom of residence within one's home country

presumption of innocence unless proved guilty

right to marry

right to have a family

right to be treated equally without regard to gender, race, language, religion, political beliefs,

nationality, socioeconomic status and more

right to privacy freedom of thought

freedom of religion

free choice of employment

right to fair pay

equal pay for equal work

right to vote

right to rest and leisure

right to education

right to human dignity

2.2.2 Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements

The United Nations Conference on Human Settlements held in 1976 (Vancouver Declaration On

Human Settlements) reaffirmed the aimforging new partnerships for action at the international, national

and local levels to improve our living environment by committing to the habitat Agenda. To achieve this

objective the general principles of this declaration purported that:

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

24/70



1. The improvement of the quality of life of human beings is the first and most important objective of

every human settlement policy. These policies must facilitate the rapid and continuous improvement in

the quality of life of all people, beginning with the satisfaction of the basic needs of food, shelter, clean

water, employment, health, education, training, social security without any discrimination as to race,colour, sex, language, religion, ideology, national or social origin or other cause, in a frame of freedom,

dignity and social justice.

2. In striving to achieve this objective, priority must be given to the needs of the most disadvantaged

people.

3. Economic development should lead to the satisfaction of human needs and is a necessary means

towards achieving a better quality of life, provided that it contributes to a more equitable distribution of

its benefits among people and nations. In this context particular attention should be paid to the

accelerated transition in developing countries from primary development to secondary developmentactivities, and particularly to industrial development.

4. Human dignity and the exercise of free choice consistent with over-all public welfare are basic rights

which must be assured in every society. It is therefore the duty of all people and Governments to join

the struggle against any form of colonialism, foreign aggression and occupation, domination, apartheid

and all forms of racism and racial discrimination referred to in the resolutions as adopted by the General

Assembly of the United Nations.

5. The nations must avoid the pollution of the biosphere and the oceans and should join in the effort to

end irrational exploitation of all environmental resources, whether non-renewable or renewable in the

long term. The environment is the common heritage of mankind and its protection is the responsibility of

the whole international can unity. All acts by nations and people should therefore be inspired by a deep

respect for the protection of the environmental resources upon which life itself depends.

6. All countries, particularly developing countries, must create conditions which make possible the full

integration of women and youth in political, economic and social activities, particularly in the planning

and implementation of human settlement proposals and in all the associated activities, on the basis of

equal rights, in order to achieve an efficient and full utilization of available human resources, bearing in

mind that women constitute half of the world population.

2.2.3 Habitat Agenda

The Habitat Agenda is the main political document that came out of the Habitat II conference in

Istanbul, Turkey 3 to 14 June 1996. Adopted by 171 countries, at what was called the City Summit it

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

25/70



contains over 100 commitments and 600 recommendations on human settlements issues. This

document led to the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements.

The Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements of 1996 is a reaffirmation of the Habitat Agenda

agreed separately at the Habitat II conference. It notably reaffirms the commitment of world

governments to better standards of living in larger freedom for all humankind.

1. The Declaration seeks to endorse the universal goals of ensuring adequate shelter for all and

making human settlements safer, healthier and more liveable, equitable, sustainable and

productive. Two major themes of the Conference - adequate shelter for all and sustainable human

settlements development in an urbanizing world - have been inspired by the Charter of the United

Nations and are aimed at reaffirming existing and forging new partnerships for action at the

international, national and local levels to improve our living environment.

2. The continuing deterioration of conditions of shelter and human settlements should be treated with

a sense of urgency. At the same time, cities and towns are seen as centres of civilization,

generating economic development and social, cultural, spiritual and scientific advancement.

Therefore, advantage must be taken of the opportunities presented by settlements and preserve

their diversity to promote solidarity among all our peoples.

3. Commitment to better standards of living in larger freedom for all humankind should be a

paramount goal. The UNCHS, 1976, International Year of Shelter for the Homeless and the Global

Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, the UNCED 1992, should be integrated to achieve a better

quality of life.

4. To improve the quality of life within human settlements, the deteriorating conditions that in most

cases, particularly in developing countries, that have reached crisis proportions must be combated.

Consequently, unsustainable consumption and production patterns, particularly in industrialized

countries; unsustainable population changes, including changes in structure and distribution, giving

priority consideration to the tendency towards excessive population concentration; homelessness;

increasing poverty; unemployment; social exclusion; family instability; inadequate resources; lack of

basic infrastructure and services; lack of adequate planning; growing insecurity and violence;

environmental degradation; and increased vulnerability to disasters- must be addressed in order to

improve the quality of life is citizens.

5. The challenges of human settlements are global, but countries and regions also face specific

problems which need specific solutions. It is recognized that the need to intensify efforts and

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

26/70



cooperation to improve living conditions in the cities, towns and villages throughout the world,

particularly in developing countries, where the situation is especially grave, and in countries with

economies in transition. In this connection, globalization of the world economy presents

opportunities and challenges for the development process, as well as risks and uncertainties, andthat achievement of the goals of the Habitat Agenda would be facilitated by, inter alia, positive

actions on the issues of financing of development, external debt, international trade and transfer of

technology. Cities must be places where human beings lead fulfilling lives in dignity, good health,

safety, happiness and hope.

6. Rural and urban development are interdependent. In addition to improving the urban habitat, there

must also work to extend adequate infrastructure, public services and employment opportunities to

rural areas in order to enhance their attractiveness, develop an integrated network of settlements

and minimize rural-to-urban migration. Small- and medium-sized towns need special focus.7. As human beings are at the centre of our concern for sustainable development, they are the basis

for our actions as in implementing the Habitat Agenda. There are particular needs of women,

children and youth for safe, healthy and secure living conditions. Intensification of efforts to

eradicate poverty and discrimination, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental

freedoms for all, and to provide for basic needs, such as education, nutrition and life-span health

care services, and, especially, adequate shelter for all should be promoted. The promotion of full

accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as gender equality in policies, programmes and

projects for shelter and sustainable human settlements development should be encouraged.

8. In order to sustain global environment and improve the quality of living in human settlements, there

is a need to promote sustainable patterns of production, consumption, transportation and

settlements development; pollution prevention; respect for the carrying capacity of ecosystems; and

the preservation of opportunities for future generations. In addition, promotion of healthy living

environments, especially through the provision of adequate quantities of safe water and effective

management of waste is needed.

9. Promote the conservation, rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings, monuments, open spaces,

landscapes and settlement patterns of historical, cultural, architectural, natural, religious and

spiritual value.

The long-term impact of the commitments made by Governments and the international community,

together with local authorities and nongovernmental organizations, at Habitat II will depend on the

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

27/70



implementation of actions agreed upon at all levels, including the local, national, regional and

international levels. National plans of action and/or other relevant national programmes and actions to

achieve the goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development will need

to be developed or strengthened, where appropriate, and their implementation will need to bemonitored and evaluated by Governments in close cooperation with their partners in sustainable

development at the national level. Similarly, progress in implementing the Habitat Agenda needs to be

assessed with a view to encouraging and enabling all interested parties to improve their performance

and to strengthen international cooperation.

2.2.4 Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium

Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium is the United Nations

General Assembly Resolution S25.2 of 9 June 2001 reaffirming that the Istanbul Declaration and the

Habitat Agenda will remain the basic framework for sustainable human settlements development in the

years to come.

2.2.5 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In 2001, recognizing the need to assist impoverished nations more aggressively and as such to improve

their basic quality if living, UN member states adopted the international development targets of

promoting eight goals. The MDGs aim to spur development by improving social and economic

conditions in the world's poorest countries. Set for the year 2015, the MDGs are an agreed set of goals

that can be achieved if all actors work together and do their part. Poor countries have pledged to

govern better, and invest in their people through health care and education. Rich countries have

pledged to support them, through aid, debt relief, and fairer trade.

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Target 1- Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one

dollar a day.

Target 2-Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Target 3- Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full

course of primary schooling.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

28/70



Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target 4- Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably\ by 2005, and to all

levels of education no later than 2015.

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Target 5- Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Target 6- Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Target 7- Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

Target 8- Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major

diseases.

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Target 9- Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes

and reverse the losses of environmental resources.

Target 10- Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

Target 11- By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum

dwellers.

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Target 12- Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial

system

Target 13- Address the special needs of the least developed countries

Target 14- Address the special needs of landlocked countries and Small Island developing States.

Target 15- Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and

international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

29/70



2.2.6 State of the Worlds Cities 2008/2009- Harmonious Cities

The UN-Habitat produced the state of the cities report- harmonious cities for 2008/2009. The data and

analysis contained in the report are intended to improve the understanding of how cities function and

what the global community, can do to increase their liveability, unity and quality of life.

The report revealed that spatial and social disparities within cities and between cities and regions within

the same country are growing as some areas benefit more than others from public services,

infrastructure and other investments. Evidence presented in this report also shows that when cities

already have high levels of inequality, spatial and social disparities are likely to become more, and not

less, pronounced with economic growth. High levels of urban inequality present a double jeopardy.

The report adopts the concept of Harmonious Cities as a theoretical framework in order to understand

todays urban world, and also as an operational tool to confront the most important challenges facingurban areas and their development processes. It recognizes that tolerance, fairness, social justice

quality of life and good governance, all of which are inter-related, are as important to sustainable urban

development as physical planning. The report also assesses the various intangible assets within cities

that contribute to harmony, such as cultural heritage, sense of place and memory and the complex set

of social and symbolic relationships that give cities meaning. It argues that these intangible assets

represent the soul of the city and are as important for harmonious urban development as tangible

assets.

Key Findings

1. Central governments play a critical role in determining the prosperity and growth of cities

2. Balanced urban and regional development can be achieved through consistent and targeted

investments in transport and communications infrastructure.

3. Cities are becoming more unequal

4. High levels of urban inequality are socially destabilizing and economically unsustainable

5. Focused and targeted investments and interventions can significantly improve the lives of slum

dwellers

6. Cities provide an opportunity to mitigate or even reverse the impact of global climate change as

they provide the economies of scale that reduce per capita costs and demand for resources.

7. Evidence shows that compact and well-regulated cities with environmentally-friendly public

transport systems have a positive environmental impact

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

30/70



8. Sea level rise could have a devastating impact on coastal cities

9. Commitment to pro-poor, inclusive urban development

10.Coordination and collaboration between national, provincial and local authorities can achieve

harmonious regional and urban development, provided they share a common vision anddemonstrate sufficient political will

2.2.7United Nations Human Development Index

2.2.7.1 Origins of the Human Development Index Approach

The highest level QOL study, and perhaps the best known, is the United Nations Human Development

Report which was developed by the Human Development Report Office in 1990 and has been

subsequently developed into what is regarded as one of the best studies on quality of life. The

cornerstone of the report is the Human Development Index (HDI).

The Human Development approach arose in part as a result of growing criticism to the leading

development approach of the 1980s, which presumed a close link between national economic growth

and the expansion of individual human choices.

The index was developed in 1990 by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, Sir Richard Jolly, with help

from Gustav Ranis of Yale University and Lord Meghnad Desai of the London School of Economics

(Human development report 1990). It has been used since then by UNDP in its annual Human

Development Report. It is claimed that ideas of Indian Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen were influentialin the development of the HDI. The HDI now serves as a path towards a wide variety of more detailed

measures contained in the Human Development Reports. Each played a key role in formulating the

human development paradigm, came to recognize the need for an alternative development model due

to many factors, including:

Growing evidence that did not support the then prevailing belief in the trickle down power of

market forces to spread economic benefits and end poverty;

The human costs of Structural Adjustment Programmes became more apparent;

Social ills (crime, weakening of social fabric, HIV/AIDS, pollution, etc.) were still spreading even

in cases of strong and consistent economic growth;

A wave of democratization in the early 90s raised hopes for people-centred models.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

31/70



2.2.7.2 Rationale for HDI

Human development index is a popular quantitative measure of the degree of a country's success in

developing its human potential. Its introduction in early 90s was caused by the necessity to find the

measure of human progress which is people rather than economic-centred approach.

Economic growth does not necessarily imply human development, as well as a strong human potential

is not always reflected in economic performance, but in general these factors act as mutually reinforcing

entities, and this bilateral influence can additionally be strengthened by proper government policies.

During World War II, gross domestic product (then gross national product) accounts were introduced to

measure wartime production capacity (Cobb et al., 1995). Since then, GDP has become the worlds

most ubiquitous indicator of economic progress. It is widely used by policymakers, economists,

international agencies and the media as the primary scorecard of a nations economic health and well-

being. Yet, as we know from its creator Simon Kuznets, the GDP was never intended for this role

(Kuznets, 1934). It is merely a gross tally of products and services bought and sold, with no distinctions

between transactions that enhance well being and those that diminish it. Therefore, historically, GNP

per capita (per person) as a result countries with higher GDP were more likely to also score highly on

other measures of quality of life, such as life expectancy. However, there are serious limitations to the

usefulness of GDP as a measure of quality of life:

GDP does not measure certain factors that affect quality of life, such as the quality of the

environment (as distinct from the input value) and security from crime. This leads to distortions - forexample, spending on cleaning up an oil spill is included in GDP, but the negative impact of the spill

on well-being (e.g. loss of clean beaches) is not measured.

GDP is the mean (average) wealth rather than median (middle-point) wealth. Countries with a

skewed income distribution may have a relatively high per-capita GDP while the majority of its

citizens have a relatively low level of income, due to concentration of wealth in the hands of a small

fraction of the population as explained in the Gini Coefficient9.

Within each of these categories, there are a large number of sub-categories, covering a vast array of

social and economic indicators. However, in recognition of the limitations of the HDI as a measure of

human development, a number of other composite indices have been subsequently developed. These

include a gender-related development index (GDI), a gender empowerment measure (GEM), a human

9Distribution of family income - Gini index, The World Factbook, CIA, updated on January 24, 2008.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

32/70



poverty index (HPI), and a technological achievement index (TAI), Index of Sustainable Economic

Welfare (ISEW), Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), Gross National Happiness (GNH) and Sustainable

National Income (SNI) are used.

Since 1990, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been publishing annually its Human

Development Report" which explores in detail the relationship between human development and \hard

variables" representing the economic, social, demographic state of the society. This program aims at

revealing the relative performance of different countries via constructing a numerical measure of human

development. Of course, the concept of human development is much deeper and richer than what can

be captured in a composite index or even by a detailed set of statistical indicators. Yet it is useful to

aggregate different aspects of a complex reality.

Though simple in construction, HDI provides useful insights into the causes of the differences between

countries' position in the world ranking, and even may be used as a policy target. It also reveals very

sharply the structure and direction of the progress (or retrogression) in human potential in the course of

economic growth of a country, and the problems accompanying this progress across approx.170

countries for which necessary data are available (see map 1).

2.2.7.3 Dimensions of HDI

The HDI combines three basic dimensions:

Life expectancy at birth, as an index of population health and longevity

Knowledge and education, as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weighting)

and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio (with one-third

weighting).

Standard of living, as measured by the natural logarithm of gross domestic product (GDP) per

capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in United States dollars.

The HDI value for each country (region, etc.) indicates how far it has to go to attain certain defined

goals: an average life span of 85 years, access to education for all and a standard of living on the worldlevel. In fact, HDI weights deprivation in these three factors, i. e., the relative distance from the

desirable goal on the unit scale.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

33/70



2.2.7.4 Calculation of HDI

For any component of the HDI, individual indices are computed according to the general formula:

Fixed minimum and maximum values have been established for each of the indicators:

_ Life expectancy at birth: 25 and 85 years;

_ Adult literacy: 0% and 100%;

_ combined enrolment ratio: 0% and 100%;

_ Real GDP per capita (PPP$): PPP$100 and PPP$40000.

Educational attainment index is built as a linear combination of adult literacy and combined primary,

secondary and tertiary enrollment ratios with weights 2=3 and 1=3, respectively:

Where and are the lowest and highest values the variablexcan attain, respectively.

The Human Development Index (HDI) then represents the average of the following three general

indices:

Figure 5: Human Development Index 2008 (Source: United Nations Statistical Division)

India

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

34/70



Map 1: World map indicating Human Development Index (2008 Update)10.

0.950 and over 0.9000.9490.8500.899 0.8000.8490.7500.799

0.7000.749 0.6500.6990.6000.649 0.5500.5990.5000.549

0.4500.499 0.4000.4490.3500.399 under 0.350not available

2.2.8 Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index

The Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index is based on a unique methodology that links the

results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys to the objective determinants of quality of life across

countries. The index was calculated in 2005 and includes data from 111 countries and territories.

Economist Intelligence Units quality of life index (India is ranked 73 of 111 countries at 5.759). The

survey uses nine quality of life factors to determine a nation's score 11. They are listed below including

the indicators used to represent these factors:

1. Health: Life expectancy at birth (in years). Source: US Census Bureau

2. Family life: Divorce rate (per 1,000 population), converted into index of 1 (lowest divorce rates)

to 5 (highest). Sources: U_; Euromonitor

3. Community life: Dummy variable taking value 1 if country has either high rate of church

attendance or trade-union membership; zero otherwise. Source: World Values Survey

10www.wikepedia.com

11 The Economist Intelligence Units Quality-of-Life Index" (PDF). The Economist.http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-10-03.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

35/70



4. Material well being: GDP per person, at PPP in $. Source: Economist Intelligence Unit

5. Political stability and security: Political stability and security ratings. Source: Economist

Intelligence Unit

6. Climate and geography: Latitude, to distinguish between warmer and colder climates. Source:CIA World Factbook

7. Job security: Unemployment rate (%.) Source: Economist Intelligence Unit

8. Political freedom: Average of indexes of political and civil liberties. Scale of 1 (completely

free) to 7 (unfree). Source: Freedom House

9. Gender equality: measured using ratio of average male and female earnings. Source: U_DP

Human Development Report

Table 1: Economist Intelligence Units QOL Reference Tables12

.

12 Source:(http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf)

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

36/70



Map 2: World map showing the Economist Intelligence Units Quality of Life Scores

13

.

8.000 - 8.999 7.000 - 7.999 6.000 - 6.999 5.000 - 5.999 4.000 - 4.999 3.000 - 3.999

No Data

13 The Economist Intelligence Units Quality-of-Life Index" (PDF). The Economist.http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-10-03.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

37/70



CHAPTER 3

CURRENT

INTERNATIONALSCENARIOS

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

38/70



3.0 CURRENT INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

3.1 Introduction

Nations of the world vary greatly in terms of fundamental dimensions such as population size,geographical area, economic and military prowess that evolved through part several centuries or

decades. Not surprisingly therefore, their level and nature of urbanization vary considerably as so does

the QOL in their towns and cities. In Cities of the developed western countries the QOL in terms of

access to services and facilities is probably the best in the world but in terms of old age care, loneliness

and other tangible socio-cultural dimensions, continue to be poor. In Contrast, in the developing and

undeveloped societies, though material well being is often accessible in an inequitable fashion,

collective celebration of typical cultural events affords a profound sense of joy and identify as a part of a

larger community.

3.2 Categorization of Countries

Countries are categorized by their economic development. A common categorization of countries that

was used during the Cold War period incorporated government ideology such as capitalism and

communism. This system, where poorer countries are labeled as the Third World, has as its "First

World" the Capitalist countries, and as its second world the Communist countries. The problem with this

categorization was that countries were grouped based on both ideology and capitalist development.

A two-tiered classification system that was based only on development was established by the United

Nations. The terms, Developed Country (DC), and developing Country (UDC), were adopted as

classification categories14. Developed countries are those that have made major social, political, and

economic progress. Their economies are based on service and manufacturing industries. They have a

low population growth rate, a high per capita gross domestic product, good educational opportunities,

and easily available health resources. Developing countries generally have economies based on

agriculture. They have a rapid population growth rate and limited resources. Many of their residents

lack the basic necessities of life. About three fourths of the worlds people live in developing countries.

Occasionally, some countries didn't fall into these two new categories. The former Secretary General of

the United Nations, Kofi Annan, defined a developed country as follows A developed country is one

14 United Nations Statistical Division, 2008

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

39/70



that allows all its citizens to enjoy a free and healthy life in a safe environment15." But according to the

United Nations Statistics Division, There is no established convention for the designation of

"developed" and "developing" countries or areas in the United Nations system16. It also noted that: The

designations "developed" and developing" are intended for statistical convenience and do notnecessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the

development process17.

Map 3: Categorization of Countries by Income Groups

Source: www.wikepedia.com).

The three-tiered classification system developed by the World Bank is the one that is commonly used

today. In this system, countries are divided into three categories: LDC (Less developed country), MDC

(Moderately developed country)18, and HDC (Highly developed country). Characteristics that determine

to which category a country belongs include: Gross National Product (GNP) per capita, transportation

and communication facilities, consumption of energy and literacy, and the countries unemployment19.

15 http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/G_05_00.htm

16 "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other

groupings (footnote C)". United Nations Statistics Division. Revised 17 October 2008.http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#ftnc. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.

17 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm

18LDC and MDC are still categorized as Developing countries.

19 Source World Bank Global Development Finance 1997 Vol 2 pages for each country

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

40/70



Figure 6: Distribution of Countries Based on Stages of Development (cited in www.wikepedia.com-200920).

3.3 Quality of Life Characteristics

Lower Income Countries or Least Developed Countries are characterized by a marginal physical

environment. The countries that fall into this category are, most of African countries, and many of the

Asian countries. The LDC countries have the following characteristics:

1. Little to no build-up of agriculture

2. Low energy production and consumption

3. Subsistence farming (farm only for themselves)

4. Large percentage of the population is under 15 (causing a high birthrate because a large

percentage of the population is entering its "reproductive stage")

5. Infant mortality rate is high

6. Poorly developed trade and transportation

7. Poor medical facilities

8. High illiteracy and unemployment rates

9. GNP is under $3,000 per year.

Moderately Developed or Middle Income Countries are countries that are a moderation of LDC and

HDC. These countries have classifications that fit into both of the LDC and HDC categories and the

20Source World Bank Global Development Finance 1997 Vol 2 pages for each country

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

41/70



GNP ranges from $4,000 - $10,000. Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Mexico and the Bahamas are examples of

MDC's.

Highly Developed Countries or High Income Countries are countries that are advanced in many ways.

The countries that fall into this category are the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and most of the

Western European countries. A HDC country must fall into these categories:

1. Extensive trade contacts

2. Advanced internal communication systems

3. Dense transportation networks

4. High energy production and consumption

5. Advanced medical facilities

6. Low population growth

7. High level of urbanization

8. GNP exceeds $10,000 per year

9. Has strong military control

Plate 1: Organized vs. disorganized method of SWM in Developed and Developing Countries.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

42/70



3.4 Quality of life in War torn Nations

War-torn Nations are those which have constant conflicts and have major security and defense issues.

The quality of life in such nations is obstructed due to civil unrest and results into interruption of daily

activities. Basis human rights such as education, healthcare, sanitation and water, security and food

availability are lacking and results in the country having stunted growth.

A report "Last in Line, Last in School", released by the Save the Children (2009), a U.S.-based charity,

calls attention to the fact that most donor nations and multilateral donors prioritize education-related

funding to stable countries instead of those affected by conflict.

Children in so-called conflict affected fragile states (CAFS) represent a disproportionate number of the

world's out-of-school population largely because these countries are under-funded by international aid

donors when compared to other low-income countries, says a report released Thursday. In the war-torn

Darfur region of Sudan, for example, over 50 percent of children are out of school but almost no funding

has been provided specifically to educate them. Save the Children says that educating children in

CAFS is crucial since it can increase their resistance to forced recruitment, exploitation and prostitution,

as well as teaching landmine awareness and providing information on disease prevention. "(Primary

education) contributes to economic growth, peace and stability, and promotes critical thinking in citizens

and their ability to hold local and national systems to account, paving the way for good governance and

institution-building," says the report.

Despite a dramatic decrease in the number out of out-of-school children in the world, providing aid for

education is not a priority in either humanitarian or development aid in CAFS, with donors not filling the

nine-billion-dollar financing requirements to meet the Millennium Development Goal of enabling all

children to go to primary school by 2015. Foreign aid for education has targeted middle and low-income

countries, while CAFS have received less than a fifth of total education aid.

3.4.1 Case study- Rebuilding a War-Torn Country- Iraq

Only $1.2 billion of the $18.4 billion in emergency funds for

Iraq has been spent. The money was appropriated in 2003.

The pace of spending is reflected in quality-of-life issues for

Iraqis, most of whom are living in dire circumstances

physically, socially and economically (www.unicep).

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

43/70



1. Electricity Slowly Increasing

After the power grid was targeted in the first Gulf War, the

lack of power, fuel and transportation led to epidemic

levels of disease, killing hundreds of thousands of children

over the next 12 years.

2. Water In Short Supply

60 percent of urban areas have access to potable water,

compared with 92 percent a year ago. 45 percent of rural

areas have access to potable water, unchanged from

before the war.

The lack of electricity combined with damaged or nonexistent water treatment systems means tons of

human waste is dumped directly into rivers, the source of water for many people, with consequent

deadly increases of water-borne diseases.

Plate 2: Children carrying Water from River in Iraq (Source: unicef.org)

Figure 7: Electricity Situation in Iraq.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

44/70



3. Security Lacking

Iraqs security forces have approximately100, 000 members. Only 8,000 are fully trained; the other

police officers received a shake-and-bake three-week training course, according to Deputy Secretary

of State Richard Armitage.

Figure 8: Security Forces in Iraq (Source: Various Sources)

4. Civilian Deaths Mount

Estimates for civilian casualties vary depending on organization. The Iraq Body Count, a Web-based

operation that is openly against the war, posts a weekly estimate of the total Iraqi dead since the war

started. Its most recent estimate is between 13,278 and 15,357.

5. Health Care Inadequate

All but 10 percent of public medical facilities damaged or destroyed during the invasion have been

restored to pre-war levels:Issue Total

Operating hospitals 240

Primary health care centers 1,200

Iraqis dependent on this system More than 25 million

Children under 5 who have been vaccinated against polio, tetanus,

diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis

3 million, 71 percent

Children under 5 who are chronically malnourished 1.13 million, 27

percent

Table 2: Health care Scenario in Iraq (Source: various Sources)

6. Hunger and Poverty Widespread

Some 6.5 million people 25 percent of the entire Iraqi population are dependent on monthly food

rations.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

45/70



Of these 6.5 million people, some 2.6 million are so poor that they have to resell part of their

food rations to buy basic necessities such as medicines and clothes.

The prevalence of extreme poverty is high in rural areas, particularly among women and

children. The food ration program costs roughly $2.4 billion annually

Figure 9: Average Monthly Salary in Iraq Table 3: Content of Monthly Ration per HH

(Source: Various Sources)

3.5 New Zealand Quality Of Life Study - Indicators and Measures

The 2007 Quality of Life report presents a picture of life in metropolitan New Zealand and identify what

is going well and where improvements are required. The report includes 68 key quality of life indicators

(encompassing 186 individual measures) across 11 domain areas.

The data for these indicators and measures has been drawn from two main sources:

Quality of Life surveys: biennial surveys are conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Social

Development and measure resident perceptions of health and wellbeing, their community, crime

and safety, education and work, the environment, culture and identity

Secondary data sources (e.g. from government agencies and non-governmental organizations).

The Quality of Life report provides a comprehensive assessment of quality of life in 12 New Zealand

cities. The purpose of the report was to provide information that contributes to the understanding of

social, economic and environmental conditions which can be used to describe and quantify the quality

of life of those living in New Zealands major urban areas.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

46/70



Figure 10: Comparison of NZ Social Wellbeing with OECD Countries

21

.

3.5.1 Indicator Selection Criteria

The following ten selection criteria were used to assess the applicability of indicators for inclusion in the

report:

1. Relevant (to social, environmental and economic outcomes in New Zealands cities)

2. Measurable (quantifiable, with data existing to measure it)

3. Cost effective (obtainable at a reasonable cost in terms of time and financial resourcing)

4. Valid (providing a true reflection or measure of the issue; scientifically credible or otherwisedefensible)

5. Comparable (able to be standardized or compared accurately with similar indicators)

21New Zealand Quality of life report 2007

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

47/70



6. Understandable (able to be presented in a simple and appealing way to target audiences)

7. Responsive (responsive to changing conditions)

8. Time related (repeatable, showing trends over time)

9. Disaggregation (able to be disaggregated or broken down by demographic and other characteristics)10. Leading/lagging (providing leading indicators to give early warning or predictors of change;

providing lagging indicators to show effects or outcomes).

3.5.2 Indicators

1. People

Information about the people in New

Zealands 12 cities helps to understand the

nature of urban communities and how theyare changing. It can help decision makers

anticipate potential pressures on the wider

social, economic and physical environments.

Factors such as population growth, age,

ethnicity, migration and household makeup

are often key determinants of conditions

across a whole range of issues affecting

quality of life.

Figure 11: Shows the development priority taken in New Zealand, integrating environment, equity and

economy to achieve quality of life22

.

2. Health

The overall physical and mental health of populations is associated with factors such as age, ethnicity,

socioeconomic status, employment, education and housing, as well as external factors such as living

conditions and the environment. Living in a large urban area can impact on the health and sense of

wellbeing through access to health services and recreational opportunities. The key parameters that

were considered were: life expectancy; low birth weight babies; infant mortality; teenage parents;

communicable diseases; access to general practitioners; mental health and emotional wellbeing; self-

reported health status; modifiable risk factors; recreation and leisure.

22New Zealand Quality of life Report, 2007.

8/8/2019 Qol Finale

48/70



3. Knowledge and skills

Documents

Qol Finale