Measuring well-being in the Netherlands: The SCP index from 1974 to 1997

In 1974, the Netherlands Social and Cultural Planning Office developed an index to monitor and document living conditions over time: the LCI (Living Conditions Index). It is composed of indicators which reflect conditions in areas that are influenceable by government policy, such as housing, health, leisure activity, and ownership of consumer durables. Taken together, the indicators provide an objectified description of living conditions. The index has proved its value over the past two decades. It enables us to monitor how the different factors that influence living conditions interrelate and change over time. Education, income and employment are the key facilitating factors ('resources') for the achievement of good living conditions. The LCI also correlates with subjective satisfaction. New trends in society, and discussions about which indicators are appropriate have necessitated modifications to the index from time to time. In 1997, the index was updated and revised. At present, the SCP is developing a conceptual model that will link the Living Conditions Index to indices of livability, poverty and socioeconomic deprivation.