Well-Being

Personal or household income is generally regarded as the single best measure of the degree to which people are "well off." But other factors also contribute to people’s well-being. Extended measures of well-being gauge how people are faring at the household level using such factors as possession of consumer durables, housing and neighborhood conditions, and the meeting of basic needs.

Indicators of children's well-being are used to take a closer account of how well children progress to adulthood. These indicators include measures of cognitive development, social interactions, health, and successful completion of school. For more information on children's well-being, go to the Children's website.

Dynamics of economic well-being examine changes over time in poverty and in participation in major means-tested government programs such as Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).