Overview

This book provides insights into how human well-being could be better defined and empirically assessed. It takes stock of and reviews various concepts and measures and provides recommendations for future practice and research.

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9780230004986

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Reviews

'It has become widely acknowledged that the purpose of development is to improve human well being. But how do we define well being? How do we measure it? This volume is a much needed publication that brings together leading research on addressing these questions. This is an important book for all development professionals.' - Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Visiting Professor, The New School, New York, and Director and Lead Author, UNDP Human Development Reports 1996-2004 'This volume extends WIDER's outstanding tradition of publishing cutting edge work on the quality of life. Mark McGillivray has done a fine job of bringing together new work by leading figures in the field. Anyone interested in research in this area should consult and learn from this book.' - Mozzafer Qizilbash, Professor of Politics, Economics and Philosophy, University of York 'The authors of this much-needed book critically consolidate current literature on well-being measurement, propose new dimensions and measures, and articulate the need for more and better international data. The project of shaping indicators and processes to reflect wider horizons of human aspiration is of pivotal importance in development, and the book provides a tremendously solid yet creative contribution to it.' - Sabina Alkire, Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, Department of International Development, University of Oxford 'Cross-country comparisons of human development and well-being are both common and controversial. This comprehensive review of alternative ways of measuring human well-being at the level of nations is therefore timely and welcome. The whole range of different conceptualizations as well as data constraints and measurement techniques are discussed. The authors both define the research frontier and suggest ways forward for future research. This study is also very useful for all the users of the various well-being indicators available today.' - Arne Bigsten, Professor of Development Economics, Goteborg University '...a sound compilation and evaluation of current concepts and measurements of human well-being, indicating not only the huge variety of approaches, but also the difficulties and limitations attached.' - Tina Beuchelt and Manfred Zeller, Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

'It has become widely acknowledged that the purpose of development is to improve human well being. But how do we define well being? How do we measure it? This volume is a much needed publication that brings together leading research on addressing these questions. This is an important book for all development professionals.' - Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Visiting Professor, The New School, New York, and Director and Lead Author, UNDP Human Development Reports 1996-2004 'This volume extends WIDER's outstanding tradition of publishing cutting edge work on the quality of life. Mark McGillivray has done a fine job of bringing together new work by leading figures in the field. Anyone interested in research in this area should consult and learn from this book.' - Mozzafer Qizilbash, Professor of Politics, Economics and Philosophy, University of York 'The authors of this much-needed book critically consolidate current literature on well-being measurement, propose new dimensions and measures, and articulate the need for more and better international data. The project of shaping indicators and processes to reflect wider horizons of human aspiration is of pivotal importance in development, and the book provides a tremendously solid yet creative contribution to it.' - Sabina Alkire, Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, Department of International Development, University of Oxford 'Cross-country comparisons of human development and well-being are both common and controversial. This comprehensive review of alternative ways of measuring human well-being at the level of nations is therefore timely and welcome. The whole range of different conceptualizations as well as data constraints and measurement techniques are discussed. The authors both define the research frontier and suggest ways forward for future research. This study is also very useful for all the users of the various well-being indicators available today.' - Arne Bigsten, Professor of Development Economics, Goteborg University '...a sound compilation and evaluation of current concepts and measurements of human well-being, indicating not only the huge variety of approaches, but also the difficulties and limitations attached.' - Tina Beuchelt and Manfred Zeller, Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

'It has become widely acknowledged that the purpose of development is to improve human well being. But how do we define well being? How do we measure it? This volume is a much needed publication that brings together leading research on addressing these questions. This is an important book for all development professionals.' - Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Visiting Professor, The New School, New York, and Director and Lead Author, UNDP Human Development Reports 1996-2004 'This volume extends WIDER's outstanding tradition of publishing cutting edge work on the quality of life. Mark McGillivray has done a fine job of bringing together new work by leading figures in the field. Anyone interested in research in this area should consult and learn from this book.' - Mozzafer Qizilbash, Professor of Politics, Economics and Philosophy, University of York 'The authors of this much-needed book critically consolidate current literature on well-being measurement, propose new dimensions and measures, and articulate the need for more and better international data. The project of shaping indicators and processes to reflect wider horizons of human aspiration is of pivotal importance in development, and the book provides a tremendously solid yet creative contribution to it.' - Sabina Alkire, Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, Department of International Development, University of Oxford 'Cross-country comparisons of human development and well-being are both common and controversial. This comprehensive review of alternative ways of measuring human well-being at the level of nations is therefore timely and welcome. The whole range of different conceptualizations as well as data constraints and measurement techniques are discussed. The authors both define the research frontier and suggest ways forward for future research. This study is also very useful for all the users of the various well-being indicators available today.' - Arne Bigsten, Professor of Development Economics, Goteborg University '...a sound compilation and evaluation of current concepts and measurements of human well-being, indicating not only the huge variety of approaches, but also the difficulties and limitations attached.' - Tina Beuchelt and Manfred Zeller, Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

Author Information

MARK MCGILLIVRAY is Senior Research Fellow at the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University in Helsinki, Finland, and an Inaugural Fellow of the Human Development and Capabilities Association. As a Development Economist, he conducts research on development aid effectiveness, aid allocation and inter-country well-being.

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