Development » Quality of Life and Standard of Living

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The difference between quality of life and standard of living
Economic and social indicators used to measure development
Limitations of development indicators
How quality of life varies between countries and within countries
Case studies of development contrasts in different regions

Understanding Quality of Life and Standard of Living

When geographers study development, they look beyond simple economic measures to understand how well people are actually living. Two key concepts help us understand this: quality of life and standard of living.

Key Definitions:

Quality of Life: The general wellbeing of individuals and societies, including physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, safety, security, freedom, religious beliefs and the environment.
Standard of Living: The level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class or geographic area.

💰 Standard of Living

Focuses primarily on material and economic aspects:

Income and wealth
Housing quality
Access to goods and services
Measured through economic indicators like GDP per capita

😊 Quality of Life

Encompasses broader aspects of human wellbeing:

Health and life expectancy
Education and literacy
Political freedom and human rights
Environmental quality
Social connections and community

Measuring Development

To compare development between different countries and regions, geographers use various indicators. These can be broadly categorised as economic, social and composite indicators.

Economic Indicators

These measure the economic aspects of development:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced in a country.
GDP per capita: GDP divided by population, giving an average figure per person.
Gross National Income (GNI): Similar to GDP but includes income earned by residents from abroad.
Economic structure: The proportion of the workforce in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.

Social Indicators

These measure the social aspects of development:

Life expectancy: The average number of years a person is expected to live.
Infant mortality rate: Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
Literacy rate: Percentage of the population who can read and write.
Access to clean water: Percentage of population with access to safe drinking water.
Access to healthcare: Number of doctors per 1,000 people or percentage with access to healthcare.

📈 Economic

GDP per capita: $65,297 in the UK vs $936 in Burundi (2021)

🏥 Social

Life expectancy: 81 years in the UK vs 61 years in Burundi (2021)

📚 Educational

Literacy rate: 99% in the UK vs 68% in Burundi (2021)

Composite Indicators

These combine multiple indicators to give a more holistic picture of development:

🌎 Human Development Index (HDI)

Developed by the United Nations, HDI combines:

Life expectancy at birth
Education (years of schooling)
Standard of living (GNI per capita)

HDI scores range from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating better development.

👩 Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Measures gender inequalities in:

Reproductive health
Empowerment (political representation and education)
Economic status (labour market participation)

Lower scores indicate less inequality between genders.

Limitations of Development Indicators

While indicators help us compare development, they have several limitations:

Averages hide inequality: GDP per capita doesn't show how wealth is distributed within a country.
Cultural bias: Many indicators reflect Western values and may not capture what's important in other cultures.
Data quality issues: Some countries lack reliable data collection systems.
Informal economy: Economic indicators often miss informal economic activities.
Non-economic factors: Many indicators don't capture happiness, cultural richness, or environmental sustainability.

Global Variations in Quality of Life

Quality of life varies significantly between different regions of the world:

Global Development Patterns

Generally, the highest quality of life is found in:

North America (USA, Canada)
Western Europe (UK, Germany, France, etc.)
Australia and New Zealand
Japan and South Korea

Lower quality of life is often found in:

Sub-Saharan Africa
Parts of South Asia
Conflict-affected regions

Variations Within Countries

Quality of life also varies significantly within countries:

Rural-urban divide: Urban areas often have better access to services but may have higher costs of living and pollution.
Regional inequalities: Different regions within a country may have vastly different levels of development.
Social inequalities: Quality of life can vary based on gender, ethnicity, age and social class.

Case Study: Brazil

Brazil shows significant regional disparities in development:

South and Southeast: More industrialised and wealthy regions including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with higher HDI scores (around 0.8).
Northeast: Historically poorer region with lower HDI scores (around 0.6-0.7).
Within cities: Wealthy neighbourhoods exist alongside favelas (informal settlements) with limited access to services.
Key statistics: Life expectancy varies by up to 14 years between different regions of Brazil.

Factors Affecting Quality of Life

Several factors influence quality of life and standard of living:

🏢 Physical Factors

Climate and natural hazards
Natural resources
Access to water
Terrain and accessibility

👥 Human Factors

Political stability and governance
Historical factors (e.g., colonialism)
Economic systems and policies
Education and healthcare systems
Cultural attitudes and values

Case Study: Kenya's Development Contrasts

Kenya demonstrates significant development contrasts:

Urban-Rural Divide: Nairobi (capital city) has much higher standard of living than rural areas.
Economic indicators: GDP per capita is approximately $2,000, but this hides huge inequalities.
Social indicators: Life expectancy is 67 years, literacy rate is 82%, but both are lower in rural areas.
Development challenges: Rapid urbanisation has led to growth of informal settlements (slums) like Kibera, where residents lack access to clean water, sanitation and secure housing.
Positive developments: Kenya has seen improvements in mobile technology adoption, with mobile banking (M-Pesa) improving financial inclusion for many Kenyans.

Improving Quality of Life

Various approaches can be taken to improve quality of life:

Top-down development: Large-scale projects led by governments or international organisations.
Bottom-up development: Community-led initiatives that address local needs.
Sustainable development: Meeting present needs without compromising future generations.
Appropriate technology: Technology suited to the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.

Remember that improving quality of life requires addressing both economic factors (income, jobs) and social factors (education, healthcare, equality). The most effective approaches often combine economic growth with social development and environmental protection.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!