During the last decade more and more time-use data were gathered on a household level in stead of on an individual level. The time-use information of all members of the household provides much more insight in research fields that until now largely used data gathered at the individual level. One of these research fields is the study of quality of…

The most problematic issues that characterize western society is the crisis of the subject and the difficulties of interpersonal relationships, leading to situations of deep distress and increasing the fragility of human beings. This behavior of the contemporary man also depends on flexibility rules in all areas of society and particularly inside…

There are substantial differences in happiness in nations. Average happiness on scale 0-10 ranges in 2006 from 3.24 in Togo to 8.00 in Denmark and the inequality of happiness, as measured by the standard deviation, ranges from 0.85 in Laos to 3.02 in the Dominican Republic. Much of these differences are due to quality of governance and in…

The conventional view of poverty in the European Union countries is based on a relative measure, which defines all those with incomes below 60 percent of the median as poor. In the U.S., poverty is defined according to an absolute measure--the federal poverty line computed by the Census Bureau--which was $21,200 for a family of four in 2008…

This article considers the issue of facilitating policies that enhance population happiness. An impediment to such action is the failure of most policy makers to understand that subjective wellbeing can be measured and understood within the framework of science. Additionally, they fail to realize that enhancing the subjective wellbeing of…

It has become customary to judge the success of a society through the use of objective indicators, predominantly economic and social ones. Yet in most developed nations, increases in income, education and health have arguably not produced comparable increases in happiness or life satisfaction. While much has been learned from the introduction of…

Good jobs and good schools are viewed by most as essential components of a healthy society: good jobs create revenue to support quality schools, which in turn produce a superior workforce to fill those jobs. Based on survey panelist responses, most Arizonans seem to feel that they are doing well on the employment front, but not quite so well…

A gap exists between research and practice within the field of intellectual disability. In particular, researchers suggest that personal choice enhances quality of life. Following Bourdieu's suggestion to focus on improving the practice of theory rather than the theory of practice, this paper is a reflexive ethnography detailing my struggles to…

In this paper, a model is set forth relating (a) overall life satisfaction of children to children's values and (b) children's values to parents' values. Using confirmatory factor analysis models three dimensions of values (materialistic values, capacities and knowledge values and interpersonal relationship values) consistently emerged in 5…

Presents a thorough analysis of a massive survey done in Moscow in 1991. The survey covered a wide range of topics, including attitudes towards education, teachers' job satisfaction, and criminal tendencies among young people. The survey differentiates between occupational and social groups. (MJP)

Presents the concluding section of a thorough analysis of a massive survey done in Moscow (Russia) in 1991. The survey covered a wide range of topics including; attitudes towards education, teachers' job satisfaction, criminal tendencies among young people, and others. Preceding sections appear in an earlier issue. (MJP)

Identifies relative deprivation as a subjective feeling of discontent based on a belief that one is getting less than one feels entitled to. Investigates the relationship between relative deprivation, ethnic identification, and racial attitudes in South Africa. Discusses the connections between these beliefs and recent sociopolitical changes. (MJP)

Explores the effects of deindustrialization and the shift to a postindustrial society on the hopes and dreams of urban high school students. Uses the concept of liminality to characterize urban environments as transitional intersections of socioeconomic change. Includes verbatim comments from urban youth about the efficacy of their future. (MJP)