Halyna Mishchuk

National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use

Ukraine

mischuk_galina@ukr.net

Empirical study of the comfort of living and working environment –

Ukraine and Europe: comparative assessment

ABSTRACT. This paper reports findings from a comparative assessment of the “comfort” and “well-being” concepts which are used in socio-economic research to evaluate the living and working environment of the population. The use of indicators of material, social, and psychological needs satisfaction has become important as useful methodologies for the characterisation, evaluation and diagnostic of comfort. The assessment is based on the available statistical data of Ukraine and some European countries. The authors found a significant impact of a number of economic and non-economic factors on the external migration of the population (the result of the discomfort of living in their country). The most significant external migration factors are: health care needs and conditions for the for life extension, protection of human rights, need to ensure the material component of a comfortable life and satisfaction with the standard of living. The authors recommend using such approach in the economic-mathematical modelling for the purpose of state socio-economic control. The key actions aiming to comfortable life protection are improving health, creating conditions, providing the material component of a comfortable life (personal income), and advocating for the compliance with civil rights.

Olena Grishnova

Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University

Ukraine

grishnova@ukr.net

Received: February, 2015

1st Revision: April, 2015

Accepted: May, 2015

DOI: 10.14254/2071-

8330.2015/8-1/6

JEL Classification: I31, I32, P36

Keywords: : well-being, living and working environment, EU, Ukraine