The social health of the nation: how America is really doing

Abstract

Rejecting the notion that economic indicators are the only valid measures of progress in the United States, the authors offer a fuller and deeper view of the quality of life in the United States, presenting reliable information on such factors as the well being of America's youth, accessibility of health care, the quality of education, and the adequacy of housing. The book will include initial publication of this year's Index of Social Health, developed ;by the authors, which has been a nationally covered media event for the past twelve years. Drawing on a grant from the Ford Foundation, the authors convened a twenty-five member team, taken from the media, universities, and government, including economists, sociologists, psychologists, and physicians. With the asssistance of this working group, the authors developed this nine chapter book, providing the most up-to-date information available on improving, shifting, and worsening social performance in the United States.