Conditions, Standard and Quality of Life in a Study of Socio-Economic Development. An Attempt to Resolve the Problems of Definition

Abstract

In the last 30-40 years there has been an increased interest in research on socio-economic changes. Thus, there has been a shift away from measuring only the material dimension of development. Researchers started using categories such as: consumption, standard of living, level of living, economic welfare, wealth, living conditions, quality of life, a way of life, lifestyle, etc. The problem that we face in quite extensive literature is the lack of application of a uniform terminology. Attempts to define these categories should be regarded as not fully satisfactory because they do not allow the adoption of clear solutions. We can only point out some proposals that include many significant features conducive to the study of the social dimension of the economic transition. This article attempts to resolve problems of the definitions of three basic categories related to the study of socio-economic changes, which are: conditions of life, standard of living and quality of life.