A new index for study quality of life: combining socioeconomic and environmental indicators

VELÁZQUEZ, G

Indicators of Quality of Life in Latin America.

Springer International Research

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016; p. 57 - 77

This paper goes deeper and updates our previous life quality index (LQI), which we have been developing for Argentina since the 1980s (Velázquez 2001, 2008). Itshows the possible highest level of spatial desegregation: 510 departments, belonging to 23 Argentine provinces, and 15 communes of Buenos Aires City (CABA).They are then 525 total units. We have processed and incorporated the latest available census data (October 2010) into our geographic information system (GIS), also considered the latest vital statistics and, at last, updated and researched deeper in our field work; at the same time, we have looked for other data sources all over the country.Our life quality index (LQI) is based basically on two main dimensions: a socioeconomic dimension and an environmental one. The socioeconomic dimensionembraces those indicators related to education, health and housing. The environmental dimension considers those indicators which refer to environmental problems as well as to the degree of attraction of ?natural-based? landscapes and ?socially constructed? amenities.Results clearly show the progress developed by Argentine?s socioeconomic indicators during the first decade of twenty-first century. In spite of that, regional inequality levels still remain high.