Ryndzak Olha, Doctor of Economics, Senior Researcher, Department of Social and Humanitarian Development’s Problems of the Regions, State Institution “Institute of Regional Research Named After M. I.Dolishniy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”, Lviv, Ukraine

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9889-3510
e-mail: olichkar@hotmail.com

Quality fo Life: Conceptualization of the Term

Abstract. Introduction. The enhancement of people’s quality of life is becoming a top priority of most governments’ and international organizations’ policy. This concept is also widely used in scientific literature, media and daily life. In spite of that, there is no agreed definition of quality of life. Furthermore, the transition to a green economy model requires a rethinking of the quality of life standards and developing of new approaches to its analysis.

Purpose. The aim of the article is to develop the theoretical and methodological foundations of the quality of life study, in particular the formulation of the author’s definition of this concept and the development of a comprehensive approach to its analysis.

Results. An analysis of the most common approaches to determining and assessing quality of life is made. On the basis of the complex approach and in the developing of Veenhoven’s “four qualities of life” framework the scheme of the analysis of this concept is developed. It involves the study of four parameters of quality of life: livability of environment, person’s life-ability, utility of a person’s life and assessment of life. These parameters have to be analyzed in each of fife environments: economic, spiritual, social, socio-political and natural.

Conclusions. Quality of life is defined as a complex, multidimensional concept that reflects the level and sustainability of social development and characterizes a person, his/her living environment, as well as human impact on the environment and reflects assessments of life, the degree of satisfaction with its certain aspects and in general. Presented in this article approach will provide much more comprehensive study of this concept and consideration of environmental determinants of quality of life in the transition to a model of green economy. The prospect of further research on this issue is to develop a system of indicators of quality of life based on the author’s comprehensive approach to its analysis.

Keywords: quality of life; quality of life indicators; living environment; well-being; assessment of life.

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