A Proposed Definition of Standard of Living

Abstract

N O CURREN-T definition of standard of living is wholly acceptable to social scientists. To certain writers it means one of several forms of specific behavior while to others it includes broad patterns of While certain definitions refer to of material goods, others emphasize satisfactions. A widely accepted definition is that of Faith M. Williams who regards standard of living as an ideal or norm of consumption which may be described . . . in terms of goods and services of a specific quantity and quality.2 To Elizabeth Ellis Hoyt, stanidard of living refers to . . . more than material things consumed . . . a sum total, not of things, but of satisfactions.3 The importance of social values, attitudes, and habits as a part of standard of living is emphasized by Thomas D. Eliot who believes that the ... refers sometimes to the actual distribution of real income in goods, services, and advantages received. In other connections it means rather a set of habitual valuations,-of attitudes of insistence toward certain goods and services and advantages.4 Similarly, the place of habits and customs as a part of standard of living is implied in the work of W. G. Sumner and A. G. Keller.5 E. A. Ross used the words standards and folkways synonymously.6 Ani effort was made by E. L. Kirkpatrick to clarify the concept by adding mnodifying adjectives to differentiate between prevailing and desired standards of living.7 Perhaps the most inclusive definition is that of Carle C. Zimmerman who writes that standard of living . . . is the type of behavior which most adequately expresses the dominant values found in the associated manner of living. Standard of living is a species of his systems of living, which he defines as . . . the total individual and group behavior as it is integrated about the efforts to satisfy desires. 18 This definition which emphasizes behavior is called by Zimmerman a typological definition. He classifies other definitions as either attitudinal-those dealing with satisfactions, or scientific-those referring to scientific norms. Hazel Kyrk speaks of maanners and modes of livinig as expressing the dominant values of persons and groups.9 L. L. Bernard reserves the term standard to apply to ... an ideal or scienti'fically constructed scale of expenditures. . . worked out as a means to aln approved social end.'0 Included in many studies of standard of living are inventories of possessions. The term socioeconomtic status which is a related concept of standard of living, is defined by F. S. Chapin as the position an individual or a family occupies with reference to the prevailing average standards of cultural possessions, effective income, material possessions, and participation in group activities of the community.' Many investi1 The definition stated in this article was used as a frame of reference for the operational definitions of level of living, social participation and social adjustment used in the research described in the following reports: A. R. Mangus and Howard R. Cottam, Level of Living, Social Participation, and Adjustment of Ohtio Farm People, The Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletini No. 624 (1941); Howard R. Cottam, Methods of Measutring Level of Living, Social Participation, and Adjustment of Ohio Farmz People, Department of Rural Economics and Rural Sociology, The Ohio State University, Mimeographed Bulletin No. 139 (1941); Howard R. Cottam, Level of Living, Social Participation, and Social Adjustment: A Study of the of Living of 299 Ohio Farm Families, unpublished Ph. D. Thesis (Ulniversity of Wisconsin, 1940). 2 Faith M. Williams and Carle C. Zimmerman, Stuidies of Faminly Living in the United States and Other Countries: An Analysis of Material and Mfethod, United States Department of Agriculture, Miscellaneous Publication No. 223 (1935), 4. 3 The Consunmption of Wealth7, (New York, 1928), 242, and Consumiption in Our Society (New York, 1938), 266. 4 American Stanldards and Planes of Living (Chicago, 1931), 1. 5 The Science of Society (New IHaven, 1927), 71-79 Printciples of Sociology (New York, 1931), chlap. 517 The Farmner's Standard of Living (New York, 1929), 9-28. 8 Consumption an-d of Living (New York, 1936), 3 and 6. 'A Theory of Consumption (Boston, 1923), 232-233. 10 Standards and Planes of Livin., Social Forces (Dec., 1928), 190. 11 Contemporary A mnerican Inistituitions (New York, 1935), 374.