Production Dynamics for Life Quality in the Incipient 21st Century

Description

This book addresses the life quality of the average adult in the world, based on international data weighted according to national population size. It rests on the theoretical framework of analytic-functionalism to explain statics and dynamics in the production of life quality. The statics means the influences of personal and national factors on life quality, whereas the dynamics mean the changes in the influences over time. This approach elucidates life quality at the personal level rather than at the national level, which overlooks what happens to the average person living in the world. The approach involves a broad view of the production of life quality, including experiences, practices, and appraisals of life. This production also involves personal background characteristics and the national indicators of modernization, globalization, and environmental issues. Knowledge about the production is helpful for policymakers, researchers, students, and other people to upgrade life quality. Such knowledge is valuable because it is up-to-date, generalizable, and sensible based on the analytic-functionalist theoretical framework and statistical estimation. Contents 1 Introduction Study Needs Study Plan 2 Life Quality, Experiences, and Practices: Identification Life Quality Feelings Social Experiences Practices Feelings, Experiences, and Practices Summary 3 Life Quality Production: Theory Functionalist Explanation for Life Quality Voluntaristic Mechanism of Realization Voluntaristic Mechanism of Optimization Voluntaristic Mechanism of Conformity Voluntaristic Mechanism of Consistency Deterministic Mechanism Predictors of Life Quality Sociodemographic Characteristics Experiences Practices Life Quality National Indicators Time 4 Life Quality Production: Findings Statistical Analysis of Life Quality Predicting Health Predicting Life Satisfaction Predicting Delight Predicting Worry Summary Implications 5 Life Experience Production: Theory Functionalist Explanation for Social Experiences Explaining Social Experiences Economic Hardship Neighborhood Nuisance Victimization Security Family Saving Stress Predictors of Social Experiences Age Mid-age Gender Immigration Education Employment Creative Work Independent Work Religiousness Summary 6 Life Experience Production: Findings Findings Economic Hardship Neighborhood Nuisance Victimization Security Family Saving Discussion Education Effects Family Income Effects Student Status Effects Nonprofit Organization Effects Creative Work Effects Independent Work Effects National Population Effects National Bank Credit Effects National Technology Effects Summary 7 Life Practice Production: Theory Functionalist Explanation for Practices Explaining Practices E-activity Learning Spiritual Activity Risk Aversion Organizational Participation Appealing Strike participation Voting Green Demonstrating and Donation Predictors of Practices Age Mid-Age Gender Immigration Education Employment Creative Work Independent Work Religiousness Marital Status Parenthood Family Income Population Size Population Density Talent Technology Financialization Prosperity Inequality Liberty Democracy Government Effectiveness Emission Human Development Time Summary 8 Life Practice Production: Findings Findings Discussion Personal Influences National Influences Time Influences Summary 9 Conclusions Statics Dynamics Summary References