Final answer:
The three things that contribute to quality of life were not explicitly mentioned in the U.S. News & World Report study, but factors such as employment, wealth distribution, and access to basic resources are commonly recognized. The Well-Being Index and OECD Better Life Index provide frameworks to evaluate quality of life, while recognizing that wealth and standard of living disparities exist, significantly impacting these factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "In a study for U.S. News & World Report, people were asked to name the three things that contribute most to their quality of life. What are these three things?" prompts us to consider the various components that are significant to our overall well-being. The Well-Being Index measures aspects such as Life Evaluation, Emotional Health, Physical Health, Healthy Behavior, Work Environment, and Basic Access to answer this type of question. Although the U.S. News & World Report study's specific answers are not listed, factors commonly associated with quality of life improvement could include employment, wealth distribution, and access to resources that allow for a comfortable lifestyle, such as housing, healthcare, education, and community involvement. The OECD Better Life Index also explores the dimensions of living standards, factoring in community, balance between work and life, and material wealth.
It is noted that in the United States, a high standard of living typically means the capacity to afford a home, own a car, and take vacations; however, this access is not evenly distributed among the population. A substantial portion of wealth is concentrated among the top one percent, which influences access to education, healthcare, and consumption of goods and services. Moreover, issues like the 'feminization of poverty' highlight the disparity in standards of living, especially among women who are single heads of households.