Measures of Australia's Progress

This publication from the Australian Bureau of Statistics provides a digestible selection of statistical evidence that will allow Australians to make their own assessment of whether life in Australia is getting better.

Measures of Australian Progress 2006

This is the third full edition of MAP and follows a similar format to the 2004 edition. As is the nature of an evolving product, a number of changes have been incorporated into this edition.

The Environment dimensions have been restructured to move towards relating the indicators to the fundamental aspects of the environment, namely the natural landscape, the air and atmosphere, and oceans and estuaries. There have been no changes to the headline indicators.

There is a feature essay on Life satisfaction and measures of progress.

The Family, community and social cohesion chapter has been reviewed to further embrace ideas around social capital.

More international comparisons have been incorporated throughout the publication, in addition to the essay on this topic.

Follow this link to the ABS website to download measures of Australian Progress 2006 (opens in a new browser window)

Background

Providing information about whether life is getting better is one of the most important tasks that a national statistical agency can take on.

Recent years have seen growing public interest in the interrelationships between economic, social and environmental aspects of life.

There is a great deal of interest as well in developing a broader set of economic statistics that gives value to things hitherto left outside the traditional economic system.

In April 2002 the ABS published the first issue of Measures of Australia's Progress (MAP), then called Measuring Australia's Progress, as a contribution to this discussion.

The second edition of MAP in 2004 incorporated a number of changes that strengthened the publication

Follow this link to Measures of Australia's Progress 2004 (opens in a new browser window) 

The 2005 indicators included 15 headline dimensions structured around four broad areas of progress:

• Individuals 
• The economy and economic resources
• Environment
• Living together in our society

Follow this link to 2005 Measures of Australia's Progress Indicators (opens in a new browser window)

For further information

Contact	:	Australian Bureau of Statistics
Address	:	Analysis Branch ABS Locked Bag 10 Belconnen ACT 2616
Phone	:	1300 135 070
Email	:	client.services@abs.gov.au

WWW

:

http://www.abs.gov.au