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South African Quality of Life Trends Over Three Decades, 1980–2010

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  • Valerie Møller

Abstract

The South African Quality of Life Trends study has tracked the subjective well-being of South Africans in ten waves from 1983 to 2010. The paper presents the SAQoL trendline of life satisfaction, happiness and perceptions of life getting better or worse against the backdrop of the transition from apartheid to democracy. Subjective well-being peaked in the month following the first open elections in April 1994 when black and white South Africans were equally satisfied and happy at levels found in other democratic societies. But post-election euphoria was short-lived and levels of well-being dropped the following year and racial inequalities in evaluations of life re-emerged. The tenth and latest wave in the study was conducted a few months after South Africa’s successful hosting of the Soccer World Cup. In 2010, the proportions of all South Africans expressing satisfaction, happiness and optimism was among the highest since the coming of democracy—just over half stated they were satisfied, close on two-thirds were happy, and half felt life was getting better. Nonetheless, while the standard of living has increased for a minority of formerly disadvantaged South Africans and a small black middle class has emerged, there are still huge disparities in both material and subjective well-being. In 1997 and 2010, South Africans were asked what would make them happier in future. In 2010, the majority of citizens still hoped for basic necessities, income and employment, to enhance their quality of life. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Valerie Møller, 2013. "South African Quality of Life Trends Over Three Decades, 1980–2010," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 113(3), pages 915-940, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:113:y:2013:i:3:p:915-940
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0120-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lawrence Schlemmer & Valerie Møller, 1997. "The Shape of South African Society and its Challenges," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 15-50, July.
    2. Richard A. Easterlin, 2010. "Well‐Being, Front and Center: A Note on the Sarkozy Report," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 36(1), pages 119-124, March.
    3. Helga Dickow & Valerie Møller, 2002. "South Africa's `Rainbow People', National Pride and Optimism: A Trend Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 175-202, August.
    4. Heinz-Herbert Noll, 2011. "The Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi-Report: Old Wine in New Skins? Views from a Social Indicators Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(1), pages 111-116, May.
    5. repec:ces:ifodic:v:8:y:2010:i:4:p:14994881 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Alex Michalos, 2011. "What Did Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi Get Right and What Did They Get Wrong?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(1), pages 117-129, May.
    7. Valerie Møller & Richard Devey, 2003. "Trends in living conditions and satisfaction among poorer older South Africans: objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the October Household Survey," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 457-476.
    8. Murray Leibbrandt & Ingrid Woolard & Arden Finn & Jonathan Argent, 2010. "Trends in South African Income Distribution and Poverty since the Fall of Apartheid," OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers 101, OECD Publishing.
    9. Richard A. Easterlin, 2010. "Well-Being, Front and Center: A Note on the Sarkozy Report," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 8(4), pages 22-25, 01.
    10. Valerie Møller & Helga Dickow, 2002. "The Role of Quality of Life Surveys in Managing Change in Democratic Transitions: The South African Case," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 267-292, June.
    11. Valerie Møller & Helga Dickow & Mari Harris, 1999. "South Africa's ''Rainbow People'', National Pride and Happiness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 245-280, July.
    12. V. Møller & L. Schlemmer, 1989. "South African quality of life: A research note," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 279-291, June.
    13. Valerie Møller & Lawrence Schlemmer, 1983. "Quality of life in South Africa: Towards an instrument for the assessment of quality of life and basic needs," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 225-279, April.
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