European Quality of Life
Eurofound (2017), European Quality of Life Survey 2016: Quality of life, quality of public services, and quality of society, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
Nearly 37,000 people in 33 European countries (28 EU Member States and 5 candidate countries) were interviewed in the last quarter of 2016 for the fourth wave of the European Quality of Life Survey by Eurofound. An overview report presents the findings for the EU Member States.
It uses information from previous survey rounds, as well as other research, to look at trends in quality of life against a background of the changing social and economic profile of European societies. Ten years after the global economic crisis, it examines well-being and quality of life broadly, to include quality of society and public services.
The findings indicate that differences between countries on many aspects are still prevalent – but with more nuanced narratives. Each Member State exhibits certain strengths in particular aspects of well-being, but multiple disadvantages are still more pronounced in some societies than in others; and in all countries significant social inequalities persist.
KEY FINDINGS
METHOD
The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) is an established tool for monitoring and analysing quality of life in the EU. Carried out in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2016, the EQLS documents the living conditions and social situation of European citizens. It includes subjective and objective measures: reported attitudes and preferences, as well as resources and experiences.
Eurofound’s approach recognises that ‘quality of life’ is a broad concept and encompasses individual well-being as well as the quality of public services and quality of society. The current report provides an overview of multiple dimensions: it examines subjective well-being, standard of living and aspects of deprivation, care responsibilities and work–life balance; healthcare, long-term care, childcare and other public services; and social insecurity, social exclusion and societal tensions, trust, and participation and community engagement.
This report covers the 28 EU Member States. It uses 2016 EQLS data and information from previous survey rounds as well as other research to assess trends in European societies. Ten years after the global economic crisis, it reviews social progress and aims to identify remaining or emerging challenges. Policy context The policy agenda at EU level increasingly emphasises the importance of the social dimension of Europe in cohesion and convergence.
The EQLS provides a means to measure outcomes of progress, such as well-being and social inclusion. A range of data can serve to complement the social indicators used to monitor policy outcomes, particularly regarding implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Many aspects of quality of life are determined at national and local levels, and the survey evidence regarding country differences can be an impetus for further analysis by Member States and, also, for mutual learning.
The survey’s comprehensive coverage of the EU informs reflection on convergence and divergence across the Union.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information read the full report here
Nearly 37,000 people in 33 European countries (28 EU Member States and 5 candidate countries) were interviewed in the last quarter of 2016 for the fourth wave of the European Quality of Life Survey by Eurofound. An overview report presents the findings for the EU Member States.
It uses information from previous survey rounds, as well as other research, to look at trends in quality of life against a background of the changing social and economic profile of European societies. Ten years after the global economic crisis, it examines well-being and quality of life broadly, to include quality of society and public services.
The findings indicate that differences between countries on many aspects are still prevalent – but with more nuanced narratives. Each Member State exhibits certain strengths in particular aspects of well-being, but multiple disadvantages are still more pronounced in some societies than in others; and in all countries significant social inequalities persist.
KEY FINDINGS
- Overall, there has been progress in quality of life in
the EU from 2011 to 2016, with some dimensions
having recovered to the pre-crisis levels of 2007.
A decrease in material hardship and increase in
satisfaction with standard of living occurred across
all income quartiles in comparison to 2011.
However, the level of difficulties in making ends
meet is still higher in seven countries than it was
before the crisis in 2007. In 11 countries, more than
half of the population report difficulties in making
ends meet.
- Country differences in terms of quality of life remain
extensive, but these are nuanced and cannot simply
be captured in homogeneous country clusters.
Nonetheless, multiple disadvantages are still more
pronounced in some societies than in others.
- Life satisfaction in the EU over the last decade has
remained at a relatively high level: 7.1 on average on
a 1–10 point scale in 2016. It increased between
2011 and 2016 in some Member States, especially in
Hungary, Estonia and the UK, while satisfaction with
standard of living increased most in Hungary,
Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland. In Greece, Italy and
Spain, life satisfaction declined during this period,
which continues a downward trend evident from
before the economic crisis.
- Ratings for the quality of public services have
increased overall; in particular, satisfaction with
healthcare and childcare improved in several
countries where ratings were previously low. The
perceived quality of public services still varies
markedly across Member States, and people in
lower income groups report less improvement in the
quality of services.
- In urban neighbourhoods, more people have
become concerned about air quality. With regard to
neighbourhood services, inadequate access to
recycling facilities is among the issues highlighted,
while access to banking in rural areas is a problem in
some countries. Compared to the previous survey, a
lower proportion of people in the 2016 EQLS feel
close to others in their local area; this is especially
the case in rural areas, where this dimension is
important for social inclusion.
- There is a general improvement in quality of society
indicators, including a decline in feelings of social
exclusion, an increase in participation in clubs,
societies or associations, and increased trust in
national institutions. In particular, young people
(18–24 years) registered the highest increase in trust
in other people, possibly indicative of a new cohort
less scarred by the crisis.
- Perceptions of tension between poor and rich
people, management and workers, and old and
young have decreased; on the other hand, rising
tensions between different religious and ethnic
groups are reported and – although to a lesser
extent – tensions between people of different sexual
orientation.
- There are persistent inequalities on some indicators
and it is clear that the rising tide of the post-crisis
recovery has not lifted all citizens equally. For lowincome
groups, improvements on several
dimensions were more limited in terms of overall
quality of public services, perception of social
exclusion and risk to mental health (women in the
lowest income quartile being consistently at higher
risk over the last decade). However, the selfreported
health of the population, which had
deteriorated in the aftermath of the crisis, is now
better than it was in 2007, including in the lowest
income quartile.
- There are a range of insecurities and uncertainties
expressed. These include a decrease in certainty
about being able to retain one’s own
accommodation, substantial concerns about having
insufficient income in one’s old age in two-thirds of
Member States – with 13% of people in the EU
extremely worried about this – and, in a number of
countries, less optimism about the future of one’s
children in comparison to one’s own future.
METHOD
The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) is an established tool for monitoring and analysing quality of life in the EU. Carried out in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2016, the EQLS documents the living conditions and social situation of European citizens. It includes subjective and objective measures: reported attitudes and preferences, as well as resources and experiences.
Eurofound’s approach recognises that ‘quality of life’ is a broad concept and encompasses individual well-being as well as the quality of public services and quality of society. The current report provides an overview of multiple dimensions: it examines subjective well-being, standard of living and aspects of deprivation, care responsibilities and work–life balance; healthcare, long-term care, childcare and other public services; and social insecurity, social exclusion and societal tensions, trust, and participation and community engagement.
This report covers the 28 EU Member States. It uses 2016 EQLS data and information from previous survey rounds as well as other research to assess trends in European societies. Ten years after the global economic crisis, it reviews social progress and aims to identify remaining or emerging challenges. Policy context The policy agenda at EU level increasingly emphasises the importance of the social dimension of Europe in cohesion and convergence.
The EQLS provides a means to measure outcomes of progress, such as well-being and social inclusion. A range of data can serve to complement the social indicators used to monitor policy outcomes, particularly regarding implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Many aspects of quality of life are determined at national and local levels, and the survey evidence regarding country differences can be an impetus for further analysis by Member States and, also, for mutual learning.
The survey’s comprehensive coverage of the EU informs reflection on convergence and divergence across the Union.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information read the full report here