The environment and the quality of life in the United States over time

This paper considers the similarity between two measures of air pollution/quality control, on the one hand, and widely used indicators of life quality and welfare in the US, on the other. We use statistical cluster analysis based on information measures of similarity and distance. The results indicate the clusters of the US macroeconomic and quality of life indicators from 1915 to 1987, which contain the air quality measures. This can help in deciding on distinct dimensions to be considered in multidimensional studies of welfare and quality of life.