Quality of Life Index Measurements and Its International Comparison

Bc. Barbora Pištorová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This diploma thesis examines the quality of life (QOL) measurements and a suitability of indicators for such a research. The theoretical part is an introduction to the issue of life quality determination. The second chapter is the analytical one, further divided into three main chapters. Firstly, there is the computation of Aggregate Quality of Life index (AggQOL), compounded on a basis of four known indexes: Better Life Index (BLI), Human Development Index (HDI), Quality of Life Index (QOLI) and World Happiness Report (WHR) on a sample of nine European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and the United Kingdom). It captures the international comparison of rankings and objectivity of given indexes. Crucial part of this thesis is chapter dedicated to panel data regression analysis including 22 years for these nine countries. The regression framework demonstrates whether there are some relationships between endogenous variable of life satisfaction and exogenous variables: educational attainment, unemployment, life expectancy at birth, inequality of income distribution, intentional homicides and GDP. In a last part author determines the unsuitability of GDP as QOL indicator and supports this assertion both with her own outcomes and results of another expert studies.

Keywords

Better Life Index, Human Development Index, World Happiness Report, international comparison, indicators for quality of life measurements, Quality of Life Index, panel data regression analysis

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 11. 2017

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Petr Procházka, MSc Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Master programme / field:
Economics and Management / Economics and Management