Sociology prof conducts study ranking nations on socio-economic conditions

A recent University study on world social progress ranked the United States 27th among 160 nations as the best place to live. Sociology Professor Richard Estes, who conducted the study, presented his findings at the Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the International Council on Social Welfare in Jakarta, Indonesia, last Tuesday. Estes, who also chairs the Program in Social and Economic Development in the School of Social Work, has been conducting the survey every five years since 1970. "The study has value as a study itself, but its main purpose is to spot changes taking place [in various countries]," Estes said in reference to nations' socio-economic conditions. The rankings -- which place Denmark first, followed by Norway, Austria and Sweden -- analyze a nation's ability to provide for the needs of its citizens. It also monitors changes in the gap between the world's richest and poorest social classes. Estes used his Index of Social Progress -- which takes into consideration a country's social and political conditions, as well as its economic development -- to measure the performance of each country. Angola, which placed last on the list, had the lowest score according to the index. Estes noted that despite America's economic wealth, it fared only moderately in the survey. "Other studies rank the United States higher, but those studies place a great deal of emphasis on the economic measure," he said. "My study is focused on a totally different set of issues." The study, for example, places emphasis on a nation's education system and social and health services, as well as changes to its population. "There is no necessary relation between economic wealth and social development," Estes said. "Having enough money in your economy does not mean you won't have problems." The 37 million Americans in poverty and the widening gap between the nation's highest and lowest wage-earners partly contributed to America's ranking, Estes added. He said four main conditions tend to lead to a nation's relatively poor ranking -- high rates of population growth, disproportionately high defense spending, wars and diversity. Estes stressed that although "diversity in and of itself is not negative," it leads to a slow rate of social progress. "This is because each group that makes up society has a stake in the resources and this in turn leads to debate," added Estes, noting that continuous debate delays reforms. Other notable countries included in the rankings are France, which placed fourth; the United Kingdom, 9th; and Spain, Japan and New Zealand, tied for 19th.