Factors of the population life quality: an interdisciplinary approach to systematization

The article is devoted to the generalization and clarification of the classification of factors of the population life quality. Discourse analysis is chosen as the methodological basis of the study. It allowed carrying out a study of scientific works published in academic literature. The paper demonstrates the continuum of the concepts of “factor”, “cause”, “condition”, “prerequisite”, since in applied research of socio‐economic processes these concepts are considered by researchers as synonyms. It is proposed to distinguish the concepts of “factor” and “indicator” in relation to the category of population life quality. It is determined that indicators, as measures, allow us to assess the state of population life quality, measure a certain result of the influence of factors as “driving forces” on the level and quality of life of society, but they are not equal to them. We present a conditional typology of the factors of population life quality according to an extended set of characteristics. In addition to the typologies of factors on the basis of the source of origin (division of factors into external and internal, as well as objective and subjective) considered in the literature, it is proposed to classify the factors of the quality of life of the population by importance – into major and minor; by time of action – into temporary and permanent; by the possibility of quantitative measurement – into quantifiable and difficult to quantify. The classification of the factors of the population life quality, built on the principle of separating groups of factors in accordance with the spheres of life of society, was expanded and supplemented. Developing the existing approaches to the classification of the factors of population life quality, the authors identified social, economic, financial, institutional (including political and legal), infrastructural, cultural (including spiritual and moral), natural and climatic, environmental and technological factors. The authors analyzed the interrelationships of factors both within groups and outside. The typological features proposed in the study, as well as the expanded classification of the factors of the population's quality of life are practical in addition to increasing scientific knowledge. These ideas allow us to improve the methodology for assessing the quality of life, which makes it possible to take into account a wider range of aspects affecting the well‐being of the population, thereby increasing the completeness and reliability of assessments.