Global Quality of Life, Social Indicators & Future of Well-Being | Quality-of-Life Matters Podcast

🎧 Global Quality of Life, Social Indicators & the Future of Well-Being | Quality-of-Life Matters Podcast with Richard J. Estes What does it take to improve quality of life around the world? How can research shape better public policy, social development, and human well-being? In this episode of *Quality-of-Life Matters**, the official podcast of the **International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS)**, host **Dr. Roger Fernández-Urbano* sits down with **Professor Richard J. Estes**, one of the pioneers of **quality-of-life research, international social work, comparative social development, and social indicators**. Drawing on more than five decades of international scholarship and service, Professor Estes reflects on the evolution of quality-of-life research, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and why measuring what truly matters is essential for creating healthier, more equitable societies. He also shares lessons from working with governments, the United Nations, and researchers around the world—and offers his vision for the future of well-being research. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why people around the world have more in common than we often realize ✅ Why GDP alone is not enough to measure societal progress ✅ How social indicators transformed international development research ✅ The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in quality-of-life studies ✅ How governments can better listen to citizens to improve community well-being ✅ Why research should inform policy and create real-world impact ✅ Professor Estes' advice for the next generation of well-being researchers 🎙️ Guest *Professor Richard J. Estes* Professor Emeritus of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania Professor Estes is internationally recognized as one of the founders of modern comparative quality-of-life research. A former *President of ISQOLS (2004)* and recipient of the **ISQOLS Distinguished Quality of Life Research Award**, his work has helped shape the fields of **social indicators, international development, public policy, and global well-being**. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, ISQOLS established the **Richard J. Estes Lecture Fund**, which permanently endows a keynote lecture at future ISQOLS international conferences. The lecture series honors scholars whose work advances global quality of life, social indicators, and human well-being. 🎤 Host *Dr. Roger Fernández-Urbano* 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Meet Professor Richard J. Estes 00:49 The Common Humanity That Connects Us 02:41 Well-Being in a Polarized World 04:28 Advice for Policymakers: Listen to People 06:47 Why Quality-of-Life Research Matters 07:48 The Rise of Interdisciplinary Research 10:14 The Richard J. Estes Lecture Fund 10:37 Hope for the Future of Quality-of-Life Studies 12:03 Looking Beyond GDP 13:02 How Social Indicators Changed Global Development 16:16 Is the World Better Than 50 Years Ago? 19:07 The Power of Comparative Social Indicators 20:00 Why Data Must Lead to Action 22:23 Building a 50-Year Global Quality-of-Life Database 23:14 Lessons from Research Around the World 25:00 Richard J. Estes' Lasting Legacy 25:53 The Art of Living with Enthusiasm 26:02 Closing Remarks 🌎 Produced by the *International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS)* 🔗 Learn more: [https://www.isqols.org](https://www.isqols.org) 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help bring quality-of-life research to a global audience. #QualityOfLife #RichardJEstes #ISQOLS #SocialIndicators #WellBeing #HumanFlourishing #InternationalDevelopment #SocialWork #PublicPolicy #QualityOfLifeMatters #HappinessResearch #CommunityWellBeing #GlobalDevelopment #InterdisciplinaryResearch #Podcast