This book is a useful "how to" book for researchers and government offices wanting to start or improve their own QOL survey, and contains "best practices" from all over the world. It is a valuable resource for researchers, policy and for those wishing to effect changes in public policy.

Introduction; M. Hagerty et al. Part I: Concepts And Theory. Conceptualizing and Measuring Quality of Life for National Policy; S. Johansson. Why Social Policy Needs Subjective Indicators; R. Veenhoven. Towards a European System of Social Indicators: Theoretical Framework and System Architecture; H.H. Noll. Part II: Current Social Indicator and Social Reporting Programs: National and Comparative Experience. Strategies and Traditions in Swedish Social Reporting: A 30-Year Experience; J. Vogel. Quality of Life and Living Conditions in the Netherlands; J. Boelhouwer. ''Quality of Life'' Research at the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics: Social Indicators and Social Surveys; C.S. Kamen. Quality of life in a European Perspective, The Euromodule as a New Instrument for Comparative Welfare Research; J. Delhey, et al. The NORBALT Project: Comparative Studies of Living Conditions in the three Baltic Countries; A. Aasland, G. Tyldum. Living Conditions in the Arctic; T. Andersen, B. Poppel. Crossnational Comparison of the Quality of Life in Europe: Inventory of Surveys and Methods; M. Hudler, R. Richter. Part III: Applying Social Indicators to Effect Social Change. TELESIS: The Uses of Indicators to Set Goals and Develop Programs to Change Conditions; A.L. Ferriss. The Role of Quality of Life Surveys in Managing Change in Democratic Transitions: The South African Case; V. Moller, H. Dickow. Monitoring the Impact of Land Reform on Quality of Life: A South African Case Study; J. May, et al. Toward a Social Development Index For Hong Kong: The Process of Community Engagement; R.J. Estes. International Comparisons of Trends in Economic Well-Being; L. Osberg, A. Sharpe. Declining Quality of Life Costs Governments Elections: Review of 13 OECD Countries; M.R. Hagerty. Considering Social Cohesion in Quality of Life Assessments: Concept and Measurement; R. Berger-Schmitt. Do Income Surveys Overestimate Poverty in Western Europe? Evidence from a Comparison with Institutional Frameworks; C. Behrendt. Author Index.