Difference between standard of living and quality of life

Question 1 (4 marks)

Explain the difference between standard of living and quality of life.

Mark scheme (AO1, 4 marks):

• Standard of living: refers mainly to material consumption and income — how much money a person has and what they can buy (1 mark)
• Quality of life: broader measure encompassing health, education, housing, personal safety, political freedom, social connections — not just income (1 mark)
• A person may have a high income (standard of living) but low quality of life due to poor health, insecurity or lack of political freedom (1 mark)
• GDP per capita measures standard of living; HDI attempts to capture quality of life by including life expectancy and education alongside income (1 mark)