Methodological Approach to Measure the Quality of Life of the Region’s Population

O A Kozlova,E Kh Tukhtarova,M N Makarova,T V Gladkova

doi:10.15826/recon.2015.2.011

Abstract

The article is devoted to the urgent problem of the regional development, i.e. to the development of methodological tools to evaluate the quality of life of the population in the region. The article considers the concept of “quality of life”, and the terms related thereto; and substantiate the author’s position with respect to the concept. The existing domestic and foreign approaches to evaluate the quality of life of the population were analyzed, and the application of the comprehensive approach was reasoned within this study. The criteria for evaluation of the quality of life of the population were distinguished. The authors proposed the methodological approach that considers not only objective indicators of the quality of life presented in the statistical reports of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, but also employs subjective evaluations of the local population enabling more appropriate evaluation of the quality of life in the region. The methodological tools of the research include mathematical methods of statistical data processing and online survey of the population about the level of satisfaction with various aspects of their life. The methodological tools were tested using the example of the Sverdlovsk Region that is characterized both by the steady improvement of statistical indicators of the quality of life and by low satisfaction of population with certain aspects of the quality of life, which generally decreases the integrated indicator of the quality of life despite positive dynamics of social and economic development of the region and vigorous social policy of the regional authorities. The proposed methodology was used in the evaluation of the quality of life of the Sverdlovsk Region population as part of the development of the Concept of comprehensive regional program “New quality of life of Ural residents” (Decree of the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region No. 45-UG dated January 29, 2014 “On the Concept of the life quality improvement for the Sverdlovsk Region population before 2030 year — “New quality of life of Ural residents”).

Highlights

IntroductionThe task of the population life quality improvement is one of the key tasks in social and economic policy of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities
At present, the task of the population life quality improvement is one of the key tasks in social and economic policy of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities.Among the factors that led to negative changes in the level and quality of life of the Russian population, the researchers mention the following: high pace of economic reforms accompanied with increased neuropsychic and stress impacts on an individual, deepening of all forms of social and economic inequality; wide prevalence of health-destructive behavior patterns related primarily to the alcohol consumption; critical state of the health care system [1, p. 284].The state social policy is to address these and other problems
The objective component evaluation of the quality of life of the population of the Sverdlovsk Region was based on statistical data of the Federal State Statistics Service

Summary

Introduction

The task of the population life quality improvement is one of the key tasks in social and economic policy of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities. Among the factors that led to negative changes in the level and quality of life of the Russian population, the researchers mention the following: high pace of economic reforms accompanied with increased neuropsychic and stress impacts on an individual, deepening of all forms of social and economic inequality; wide prevalence of health-destructive behavior patterns related primarily to the alcohol consumption; critical state of the health care system [1, p. The state social policy is to address these and other problems This policy is one of the most important spheres of social and economic life of society. The effectiveness of the social policy is manifested in the level and quality of life of population that directly affects the sustainable development of the region (the balance of social, economic, institutional and environmental aspects) [2, p. 165−166; 3]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion