Abstract
In this book, we try to give a picture of the individual well-being of Belgians. We describe which aspects of life determine this well-being and how these aspects are distributed in Belgium. Particular attention is paid to the situation of Belgians who achieve the lowest levels of well-being, as well as the situation of specific groups such as children, the elderly and single-parent families.
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Notes
- 1.
The median income is the level of income which divides the population into two equal groups, half having an income below the median and half having an income above that amount.
- 2.
The Stiglitz–Sen–Fitoussi report (2009) played an important role as a catalyst here. International institutions such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are paying increasing attention to the non-material aspects of well-being and have constructed multidimensional benchmarks such as the Human Development Index and Better Life Index (see https://hdr.undp.org/ and https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org).
- 3.
Fleurbaey and Blanchet (2013, p. 163 et seq.) discuss the literature under the sceptical title: “The Easterlin paradox: have we been wrong for 70,000 years?”.
- 4.
For example, see Sen (1985, 2009). This approach has now also become very popular outside the academic world among policymakers and action groups.
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Capéau, B. et al. (2020). What Constitutes a Good Life?. In: Well-being in Belgium. Economic Studies in Inequality, Social Exclusion and Well-Being. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58509-9_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58509-9_1
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