Though the prices of things she buys have gone up, Jin's income has remained stable over the past few years . Nevertheless, Jin feels better off because the environment is cleaner, the crime rate has dropped, she has more relaxation time, and the quality of medical care has improved. If Jin's experience is typical, we can assume that the standard of living has
A) increased, but the quality of life has decreased.
B) increased, and so has the quality of life.
C) declined, but the quality of life has increased.
D) declined, and so has the quality of life.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The standard of living refers to how much people can buy with their income. Since prices have gone up faster than her income, Jin's standard of living has declined. However, quality of life refers to a broader measure of general well-being. The improved quality of the environment, safer streets, increased leisure time, and improved medical care would all contribute to an improvement in general well-being, and hence would increase the quality of life.

Though the Prices of Things She Buys Have Gone Up