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

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.

Consumption Corridors

“…In their attempt to infuse social, political, and/or environmental factors into conventional indicators and indexes of quality of life, scholars and practitioners have suggested several alternatives to GDP. The number and range of the measures pose new problems, however, quite apart from vexing issues of data availability (Fuchs et al 2020). Scholars and practitioners struggle with understanding what individual indicators or indexes capture, and how their respective strengths and weaknesses compare.…”

Tourism development and sustainable well-being: a Beyond GDP perspective

“…It includes the full range of economic, social and environmental factors that influence the overall well-being of people and societies (Dodge et al, 2012;Kubiszewski et al, 2013). There is now a solid and well-established case for looking 'beyond GDP', using well-being metrics in the policy process and assessing economic growth in terms of its impact on people's well-being and on societies' standard of living (Aitken, 2019;Boarini & d'Ercole, 2013;Fuchs et al, 2020).…”

“…In the wider social science literature a 'revolution' is taking place that has substantial consequences for the measurement challenges facing tourism development and resident well-being. This revolution, known widely as the Beyond GDP approach, recognising the inadequacy of standard economic measures such as GDP for capturing several critical dimensions of people's well-being, is attempting to develop measures of progress that capture broader aspects of people's living conditions and of the quality of their lives (Bleys, 2012;Costanza et al, 2009;Fuchs et al, 2020;Radermachier, 2015). To date, a substantial body of research and statistical work providing alternative or complementary metrics of human progress has been developed (Stigliz et al, 2018(Stigliz et al, , 2009a(Stigliz et al, , 2009b.…”

Tourism Development and Sustainable Well-Being: A Beyond Gdp Perspective

“…It includes the full range of economic, social and environmental factors that influence the overall well-being of people and societies. There is now a solid and well-established case for looking 'beyond GDP', using well-being metrics in the policy process and assessing economic growth in terms of its impact on people's well-being and on societies' standard of living (Fuchs, Schlipphak, Treib, Long and Lederer, 2020).…”

“…In the wider social science literature a 'revolution' is taking place that has substantial consequences for the measurement challenges facing tourism development and resident well-being. This revolution, known widely as the Beyond GDP approach, recognising the inadequacy of standard economic measures such as GDP for capturing several critical dimensions of people's well-being, is attempting to develop measures of progress that capture broader aspects of people's living conditions and of the quality of their lives (Bleys, 2012;Radermachier, 2015;Fuchs et al, 2020). To date, a substantial body of research and statistical work providing alternative or complementary metrics of human progress has been developed (Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi, 2009a,b;Stigliz, Fitoussi and Durand, 2018).…”