Contact Information:Social Indicator Section, Department of Statistics, Directorate General of Budget, Accounting Statistics(DGBAS)
Tel:886-2-2380-3436
For recognizing the limits of GDP as a measure of people's lives, President Ma announced in Jan. 2012 to develop a well-being measurement beyond economic growth.
Since the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) "Your Better Life Index(BLI)" includes topics we define as essential, the National Well-being Indicators(NWI) in R.O.C.(Taiwan) adopt its 11 topics, including both material living conditions (housing, income, jobs) and quality of life matters (community, education, environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance). Taking into account both purposes of international comparison and domestic characteristics, the NWI embraces two sets of indicators－international indicators and domestic indicators within each topic.
The international indicator set for compiling composite index is based completely on the BLI indicators, to allow for consistent comparison with OECD member and partnership countries. The domestic one is for a better indication of public sentiment, which has been developed through multiple meetings with scholars, professionals and government officials. It will observe our nation in 38 indicators, rather than the OECD's original 24, as covering more specific aspects of our people's lives. No composite index will be added up for the domestic indicators.
Of the total 62 indicators, data for most will be compiled by DGBAS and related agencies. Information on civic engagement and governance, however, which directly involves the government, will be gathered with the help of the Academia Sinica to enhance credibility.
The outcome of National Well-being Indicators will first be launched by the end of August, 2013, appended with indicator attributes if decomposable. The domestic indicators are still in the experimental stage, so DGBAS is open to discussion on them.
Appendix : The National Well-being Indicators in R.O.C. (Taiwan)
Full text (PDF)