Perceived comfort and subjective life evaluation in the Philippines: Evidence from a national visioning exercise

Abstract

This study examines how Filipinos evaluate their current life status and determines the factors associated with achieving a “comfortable life”, utilizing data from the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Long-Term Vision exercise (AmBisyon Natin 2040). Instead of measuring subjective well-being in the conventional sense of happiness or life satisfaction, this research interprets respondents’ self-assessed comfort levels—categorized as “poor,” “sometimes poor and sometimes comfortable,” or “at least comfortable”—as indicators of perceived material security and life adequacy. Using a generalized ordered logistic model, the results demonstrate that income, livelihood, and education are critical drivers of achieving at least a comfortable life. Similarly, satisfaction with health, education, and community environment also increases the likelihood of reporting comfort. The findings provide insights into the socio-economic and environmental correlates of Filipinos’ perceived quality of life, as articulated through this national visioning exercise.

JEL classification: I31, O15, D60, C25