Study title

The "Level of Living" - concept in statistics/social research is originally a Swedish invention, but the modern Norwegian focus on this type of research and data collection dates back to a large-scale government initiated project from 1972. The first Level of Living Study in Norway was conducted in 1973, as a data collection project for a Government Commission studying the living conditions of Norwegian Citizens. The aim was to collect data on living conditions for different social groups, with particular emphasis on low-income groups and other groups that are assumed to live under special or problematic conditions. From 1980 onwards this became a regular data collecting activity run by Statistics Norway for statistical purposes, to monitor the living conditions of Norwegians. The Level of Living Studies may be regarded as a continuation and developement of the statistical tradition behind consumer expenditure surveys and income- and property surveys. Up until 1995 this kind of studies were regularly conducted every 3-4 years, to map the living conditions of social groups. From 1996 onwards these studies were reorganised and are now carried out on an annual basis. The 1987 study is partly panel with 1983 and 1980-studies.