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Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

 

QUALITY OF LIFE IN EUROPE: TRENDS 2003-2012 [27 January 2014]

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1364.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2013/64/en/1/EF1364EN.pdf

[full-text, 114 pages]

 

Authors:

Grijpstra, Douwe; de Klaver, Peter; van der Graaf, Amber; Veldhuis-Van Essen, Christi; Weijnen, Tom

 

Summary:

Eurofound has conducted the European Quality of Life Survey EQLS) in 2003, 2007 and 2011. This report compares the results from the three waves to provide evidence of trends and change in the quality of life of Europeans over a decade. It also examines whether differences across EU Member States have narrowed or remained stable. One of its findings is that subjective well-being has remained stable across the EU as whole, but it also finds that financial strain in households has grown in the wake of the economic crisis. The report proposes a more active approach to social protection, as lower household income is a strong negative influence on quality of life, and especially so in an economic downturn

 

Executive summary 7

Introduction 9

The meaning of quality of life 9

Policy context 9

The European Quality of Life Survey 10

Objectives, research questions and research activities 11

Structure of the report 12

Chapter 1: Changes in subjective well-being 13

Life satisfaction and happiness 14

Changes in well-being among sociodemographic groups 18

Key findings 23

Chapter 2: Changes in living standards and deprivation 25

Policy context 26

Within-country inequality: hypotheses 26

Financial situation 27

Ability to make ends meet 28

Ability to afford everyday goods and services 30

Standard of living 31

Material deprivation by income quartile and age group 32

Material deprivation by vulnerable group 32

Key findings 33

Chapter 3: Changes in work–life balance 35

Policy context 36

Working time 36

Work–life balance 36

Key findings 42

Chapter 4: Changes in family and social life 43

Policy context 44

Satisfaction with family life 44

Satisfaction with social life 46

Household structure: hypotheses 48

Changes in satisfaction among sociodemographic groups 49

Sources of support 49

Key findings 51

Chapter 5: Changes in home, housing and local environment 53

Policy context 54

Home and housing 54

Housing security and affordability: hypotheses 59

Accommodation of vulnerable groups 59

Key findings 61

Chapter 6: Changes in health, healthcare, education and other public services 63

Policy context 64

Health and healthcare 64

Education 69

Other public services 72

Vulnerable groups and services of general interest 75

Key findings 78

Chapter 7: Changes in quality of society 79

Policy context 80

Trust in people 80

Trust in public institutions 82

Tension between social groups 83

Social tension: hypothesis 86

Key findings 88

Chapter 8: Conclusions and policy implications 89

Overall conclusions 90

Policy implications 93

References 95

Annex 1: Research methodology and background 99

Annex 2: Results tables for Chapter 1 100

Annex 3: Results tables for Chapter 4 104

Annex 4: Results tables for Chapter 6 108

 

 

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