日期:2026/01/13   IAE 

Policy Indicators & Evaluation Metrics

Life Value Index (LVI)

Measuring Life-Centered Economic Governance in the AI Era

Prepared for
United Nations System – Policy Design, Monitoring & Evaluation

Author
Frank Chen (陳俊吉)
Founder, Global Charity Economicism
GCWPA × NATS Think Tank | IAE Global  

本文件定位為 UN Policy White Paper 的方法論與評估工具章（Methodology & Metrics Chapter / Annex），可供 UNDP / DESA / WHO / ECOSOC / UNGA 於政策設計、監測與跨國比較時使用。

文本遵循 UN 指標設計原則：
可量化｜可比較｜可治理｜避免價值裁判語言｜可與 SDGs 並行使用。

• ✔ UN-compatible indicator framework

• ✔ SDG-aligned, non-ideological

• ✔ Scalable and adaptable

• ✔ Ready for annex or methodology chapter inclusion

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1. Purpose of the Life Value Index (LVI)

The Life Value Index (LVI) is designed to support governments and international organizations in:

• Assessing whether economic and social systems preserve or erode life value

• Identifying price-, policy-, or system-induced delays in access to life-critical services

• Complementing existing SDG indicators with a life-centered evaluative lens

The LVI does not replace SDG indicators, but functions as a cross-cutting integrative metric.

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2. Conceptual Definition

For measurement purposes, Life Value (LV) is defined as:

The immediately accessible capacity of individuals and societies to sustain life, health, dignity, safety, and long-term continuity.

Accordingly, the LVI focuses on accessibility, timeliness, and preventive capacity, rather than output volume alone.

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3. Structure of the Life Value Index

The LVI is composed of five core sub-indices, each reflecting a critical dimension of life value preservation.

Overview of LVI Structure

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4. Sub-Index Definitions and Core Indicators

LVI-1｜Life Accessibility Index

Objective
Measure the degree to which populations can immediately access life-critical services.

Key Indicators (illustrative)

• Population covered by essential health services (%)

• Average waiting time for primary healthcare

• Access to clean water, sanitation, and basic energy (%)

• Geographic accessibility (travel time to services)

Policy Interpretation
High LVI-1 = Life is not delayed by design.

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LVI-2｜Life Delay Risk Index

Objective
Identify structural risks that delay life value realization.

Key Indicators

• Out-of-pocket expenditure as % of total health spending

• Income-based service access disparities

• Deferred or forgone care due to cost (%)

• Price barriers in education and health

Policy Interpretation
High LVI-2 = Economic structures are deferring life.

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LVI-3｜Preventive Capacity Index

Objective
Assess whether systems prevent life value loss before it occurs.

Key Indicators

• Preventive healthcare expenditure (% of total health spending)

• Vaccination and early screening coverage

• Environmental risk prevention measures

• Investment in early childhood development

Policy Interpretation
High LVI-3 = Life value is preserved upstream.

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LVI-4｜Life Inequality Gap Index

Objective
Measure disparities in life value outcomes across groups.

Key Indicators

• Gap in life expectancy by income / region / gender

• Preventable mortality differentials

• Education completion gaps

• Access disparities in essential services

Policy Interpretation
High LVI-4 = Life value distribution is uneven.

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LVI-5｜Life Sustainability Index

Objective
Evaluate whether life value preservation is fiscally and ecologically sustainable.

Key Indicators

• Long-term public health expenditure growth

• Emergency vs. preventive spending ratio

• Environmental health indicators linked to mortality

• Intergenerational fiscal exposure

Policy Interpretation
High LVI-5 = Life value gains are durable.

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5. Composite LVI Scoring (Illustrative Method)

The LVI can be calculated as a weighted composite index:

 

 

$$\text{LVI} = w_1(LVI\text{-}1) - w_2(LVI\text{-}2) + w_3(LVI\text{-}3) - w_4(LVI\text{-}4) + w_5(LVI\text{-}5)$$LVI=w1​(LVI-1)−w2​(LVI-2)+w3​(LVI-3)−w4​(LVI-4)+w5​(LVI-5)

Where weights (w₁–w₅) may be adjusted by:

• National priorities

• Development stage

• Regional policy objectives

The formula emphasizes that life delay and inequality subtract from overall life value, while accessibility, prevention, and sustainability enhance it.

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6. Relationship to Existing UN Indicators

The LVI is designed to be SDG-compatible:

• Uses existing UN / WHO / World Bank data sources where possible

• Functions as a meta-evaluation layer, not a parallel reporting burden

• Helps integrate siloed SDG metrics into a coherent life-centered narrative

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7. Application Scenarios

The LVI can be applied to:

• National policy diagnostics

• Cross-country comparative analysis

• AI governance impact assessment

• Fiscal sustainability reviews

• Early warning systems for life value erosion

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8. Policy-Relevant Insight

Economic performance without life accessibility is a misleading indicator of development.

The Life Value Index enables policymakers to:

• Detect hidden life value erosion

• Rebalance price efficiency with life preservation

• Strengthen preventive governance in the AI era

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9. Implementation Considerations for the UN System

• Pilot the LVI alongside SDG Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)

• Integrate LVI logic into AI governance and digital public infrastructure assessments

• Use LVI trends to inform preventive investment strategies

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10. Concluding Note

What is not measured cannot be governed.
What does not value life cannot sustain civilization.

The Life Value Index offers a practical, policy-ready tool to operationalize life-centered economic governance at national and international levels.