The socio-economic gap

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Abstract

A prototype model is presented, to illustrate how quantified, longitudinal social indicators might be statistically combined into an overall Index of Social Health for the United States. It is recommended that such a model be adopted by some private or Federal agency, as a tool for systematically charting over time the quality of life, for social forecasting and planning purposes. Such a model would be analogous to the Gross National Project, and would have similar uses.

Thirty time series, representing various aspects of the quality of life grouped into five areas, were chosen from the “Statistical Abstract of the United States.” In combination, they portray an overall decline in the American quality of life since 1966; the decline is attributable mainly to crime, delinquency and other measures of national morale.

It is proposed that similar models be developed for metropolitan areas, states, regions, and other nations, for comparison purposes.

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