The investment game, Inflation and the cost of goods.

[Slamz]

- He who has the most toys when he dies wins.... ie Money = better quality of life.
- Quality of life through relationship fulfillment of family and love ones.
- Quality through commitment to a deity or way of life.
- Quality through dedication to a life mission, work, cause, etc.

I think there are some qualities of life that are fairly universal, though:
- Access to clean drinking water
- Access to quality (nutritional) food
- Access to proper waste and sewage disposal/treatment systems
- The amount of space between you and the next person
- Access to health care
- Access to transportation (if needed)

On those notes, we are undoubtedly better off than most of China.

We could improve all of these things and still have "poor people" but quality of life would be a lot better on average.