Spatial variations in level of living in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Geographers in recent years have displayed an increasing interest in the spatial distributions characterising a number of aspects of social well‐being. In this paper an attempt is made to provide a holistic perspective on the mapping of social well‐being in Northern Ireland through the adoption of a level of living approach. A method of level of living index construction developed by Knox for data in England and Wales is applied to statistics for Northern Ireland in 1971, and the pattern of internal geographical variation is analysed at two scale levels. Conclusions would suggest the need for a critical re‐assessment of the dichotomous east‐west model of well‐being.