Examples of Quality of Life vs Standards of living

5 Countries that either have a high quality of life and low standards of living or vice versa

Peoples republic of China: High standards of living with low quality of life

• Standards of Living 
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 12.61 trillion; 3rd in the world
• Industrial Production Growth Rate: 8.1%; 20th 
• Distribution of family income: 47.4; 29th 
• Quality of Life 
• Corrupt government 
• Restrictions including policies that ban certain practices
• One-Child Policy
• Censorship 
• Internet Ban
• Conservative

Libya: High standards of living (as comparatively) with low quality of life

• Standards of living
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 78.63 billion; 83rd in the world
• GDP (Real growth rate): 104.5%; 1st in the world 
• Exports: Mass Oil exports
• Quality of Life
• Lack of basic human rights
• Focusing on women
• No basic gender rights
• No education
• No freedom of speech 

 Qatar: High Standards of living with low quality of life 

• Standards of living
• GDP (Purchasing Power): 191 billion; 59th in the world
• GDP (Per Capita): 103,900; 1st in the world
• Gross national saving: 63% of GDP; 1st in the world
• Quality of Life
• Lack of basic human rights
• Also Focusing on women
• Right to education
• Right to Express

 South Africa: Low Standards of living with high quality of life

• Standards of Living
• GDP (purchasing power)592 billion; 26th in the world
• GDP (growth rate): 2.5%; 125th
• Gross national saving: 13.1%; 113th
• Quality of Life
• Has basic rights 
• Available to hospitals, education, political stands

Ukraine: Low Standards living with high quality of life

• Standards of living 
• GDP (real growth rate): 0.2%; 176th in the world
• GDP (Per capita): 7500; 140th
• Gross national savings: 9.9% of GDP; 126th
• Quality of life
• Has basic rights 
• Also Available to hospitals, education, political stands and including pensions for older citizens and insurance.

Standards of Living vs. Quality of life

Understanding the difference between Standards of Living vs. Quality of Life

Standards of Living: is generally referred "to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class, in a certain geographic area."  (Investopedia.com). This is the general perception of Standards of Living but it is NOT the same things as Quality of Life. Standard of Living also does not fluctuate solely on income (just because your income decreases it does not mean your standard of living has decreased). Basically, Standard of Living is recognized as more objectively rather than subjective.

Factors of Standards of Living include (Common Perception):
-Total Income
-Class
-Safety
-Education
-Environmental Quality

Quality of Life: The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines Quality of Life as the availability to particular fundamental rights and freedom in which most developed countries take for granted. Unlike Standards of living where it is objective, Quality of life is based subjectively because the 'quality' of life cannot be measured (Qualitative).

Factors of Quality of Life include:
-Equal Rights
-Freedom from discrimination
-Freedom of Thought
-Right to Education
-Right to human dignity

Foreign Policy Essay Personal Response

Personal response

What have I learned? There will always be two sides or more to a particular issue or crisis. Without negotiations (diplomacy) there will only be chaos.

How has what I have learned changed my opinion? I had always believed that within an issue there will always be a ‘right’ ethical side against a ‘realistic’ (often negative) side but that is not the case. Both sides are realistic and they both make decisions that are ‘ethical’ in their perspective. All opinions are considered and solutions are generated accordingly (Satisfy all/most sides).