This book addresses the life quality of the average adult in the world, based on international data weighted according to national population size. It rests on the theoretical framework of analytic-functionalism to explain statics and dynamics in the production of life quality. The statics means the influences of personal and national factors on life quality, whereas the dynamics mean the changes in the influences over time. This approach elucidates life quality at the personal level rather than at the national level, which overlooks what happens to the average person living in the world. The approach involves a broad view of the production of life quality, including experiences, practices, and appraisals of life. This production also involves personal background characteristics and the national indicators of modernization, globalization, and environmental issues. Knowledge about the production is helpful for policymakers, researchers, students, and other people to upgrade life quality. Such knowledge is valuable because it is up-to-date, generalizable, and sensible based on the analytic-functionalist theoretical framework and statistical estimation.
Author(s): Chau-kiu Cheung
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 469
City: Singapore
Contents
1 Introduction
Study Needs
Study Plan
2 Life Quality, Experiences, and Practices: Identification
Life Quality Feelings
Social Experiences
Practices
Feelings, Experiences, and Practices
Summary
3 Life Quality Production: Theory
Functionalist Explanation for Life Quality
Voluntaristic Mechanism of Realization
Voluntaristic Mechanism of Optimization
Voluntaristic Mechanism of Conformity
Voluntaristic Mechanism of Consistency
Deterministic Mechanism
Predictors of Life Quality
Sociodemographic Characteristics
Experiences
Practices
Life Quality
National Indicators
Time
4 Life Quality Production: Findings
Statistical Analysis of Life Quality
Predicting Health
Predicting Life Satisfaction
Predicting Delight
Predicting Worry
Summary
Implications
5 Life Experience Production: Theory
Functionalist Explanation for Social Experiences
Explaining Social Experiences
Economic Hardship
Neighborhood Nuisance
Victimization
Security
Family Saving
Stress
Predictors of Social Experiences
Age
Mid-age
Gender
Immigration
Education
Employment
Creative Work
Independent Work
Religiousness
Summary
6 Life Experience Production: Findings
Findings
Economic Hardship
Neighborhood Nuisance
Victimization
Security
Family Saving
Discussion
Education Effects
Family Income Effects
Student Status Effects
Nonprofit Organization Effects
Creative Work Effects
Independent Work Effects
National Population Effects
National Bank Credit Effects
National Technology Effects
Summary
7 Life Practice Production: Theory
Functionalist Explanation for Practices
Explaining Practices
E-activity
Learning
Spiritual Activity
Risk Aversion
Organizational Participation
Appealing
Strike participation
Voting
Green Demonstrating and Donation
Predictors of Practices
Age
Mid-Age
Gender
Immigration
Education
Employment
Creative Work
Independent Work
Religiousness
Marital Status
Parenthood
Family Income
Population Size
Population Density
Talent
Technology
Financialization
Prosperity
Inequality
Liberty
Democracy
Government Effectiveness
Emission
Human Development
Time
Summary
8 Life Practice Production: Findings
Findings
Discussion
Personal Influences
National Influences
Time Influences
Summary
9 Conclusions
Statics
Dynamics
Summary
References
