More Than Growth. Measuring Affluence and Quality of Living in Selected Countries by the OECD Better Life Index, Based on Austrian Preferences

The OECD Better Life Index (http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org/) measures the well-being and quality of living based on economic, social and ecological criteria. Altogether 24 indicators from eleven fields are weighted and combined in an aggregate index to compare countries in terms of quality of living and well-being. This study extends the OECD Better Life Index, implementing a weighting that is representative for Austria, by adding other information of relevance for Austria to the OECD indicators. An in-depth proposal for additional indicators was developed in coordination with the client, based on WIFO research. The final choice was made by way of a pretest. Based on weights obtained from a poll of 800 individuals who are representative of the population of Austria, the OECD Better Life Index and the extended index for Austria and selected other OECD countries is calculated, and disaggregated index calculations are made for population groups broken down by socio-economic features (such as gender or age).