Well-being in European regions: Does government quality matter?

This paper constructs a composite indicator of well-being for 168 European regions with data from 10 well-being domains. Regions are then ranked according to their respective levels of well-being. The ranking reveals notable differences across European regions, which follow a marked spatial pattern. As a second contribution, the paper analyses the impact of the quality of government on well-being. Results show a positive association robust to several specifications and scenarios. Moreover, the effects of quality of government on individual well-being dimensions are identified, finding positive links with education, jobs, income, safety civic engagement, access to services, housing and community support.     

Introducing ergonomics requirements in the eco-design of energy-related products from users’ behaviour approach

Ergonomics has been a very important activity in the design process. However, ergonomics rarely includes the environmental requirements into the design of products. The article proposes and presents the Eco-Ergo model through its application to a real-world product, a washing machine, to allow designers and ergonomists to establish product design requirements in order to minimise environmental impacts related to user–product interaction during the use stage. This model uses a visual language of representation, Blueprinting-based, that helps designers explore problems they have not previously considered during the market research when a wide variety of products with different interaction elements is analysed. The application of this model allows direct efforts and attention on the user analysis phase in the most influential user’s actions on the environmental performance of energy-related products during use, establishing ergonomics requirements related to users behaviour at the initial design phase.

Practitioner summary: This study provides a proposal to incorporate ergonomics into the practice of eco-design through the use of human factors in the establishment of initial eco-design requirements. This blueprint-based model combines an empirical and theoretical approach, based on the product test developed by designers, ergonomists and environmentalists.

Abbreviations: CO2: carbon dioxide; DBIM: design behaviour intervention model; DfSB: design for sustainable behaviour; DwI Method: design with intent method; LCA: life cycle assessment; LCD: liquid cristal display; MJ: megajoule; MTM: methods-time measurement; PSS: product-service system; RPM: revolutions per minute