Th e paper focuses on regional disparities in the quality of life in the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It explores the relationship between the
quality of life, social exclusion, and policies towards regional and local economic
development. Th e paper is based on a household survey carried out in August 2008
which provides a detailed picture of the situation facing households across regions.
Overall, the survey shows that there are large regional disparities in life satisfaction,
indicating an important role for regional policy in improving the life experience of
people living in the most deprived parts of the country. Th e paper concludes with a number of recommendations for improving the focus of regional policies to ensure
a higher quality of life in the deprived regions of Macedonia.