The contribution of quality infrastructure to the satisfaction of human needs
- Dr. Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke
- May 2, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Looking at QI from a psychological angle
Quality infrastructure is not an end in itself. Instead, its raison d’être is to support companies in the production and trade of goods and services that are ultimately intended to contribute to the well-being of people.
Human well-being depends on the satisfaction of human needs. According to the US-American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1974), and human needs can be represented in a hierarchical structure (Figure 1).
Although human needs are universal, they change continuously according to the personal and social development. Cultural and geographical factors also play a role.
In a market economy, many needs can be satisfied by consuming products and services. The costs and prices of goods also play a role. As technological development progresses, the prices of basic foodstuffs, for example, fall so that citizens have more purchasing power to buy products to satisfy higher needs. The figure 2 shows how the basic and security needs to be dominated in an early development phase decrease during personal development. The same principle applies to the dynamics of the individual and societal distribution of needs as purchasing power increases.
A refrigerator satisfies human needs.
The example of a durable consumer good, such as the refrigerator, illustrates how quality infrastructure services contribute to satisfying changing needs, especially at the level of the basic needs.
A refrigerator is a common appliance found in both commercial establishments and homes. It consists of a well-insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside to the outside environment, resulting in a lower temperature inside the fridge than the room temperature.
Its primary purpose is to cool food, which helps in extending its shelf life. By slowing down the multiplication of bacteria, the lower temperature reduces the rate of spoilage. This ensures that people can fulfill their nutritional needs more affordably, as the food lasts longer. Additionally, the use of a refrigerator in households frees up resources that can be allocated to other necessities.
The electrical operation of refrigerators poses safety risks for users. To ensure user safety, manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of refrigerators must adhere to safety standards. Appropriate safety regulations and tests are in place to meet the need for safety in this area. The state also plays a protective role by regulating markets and ensuring compliance with safety measures.
As refrigeration technology has advanced and mass production has increased, the cost of refrigerators has continuously dropped. Nowadays, refrigerators are a common household appliance in most countries. When purchasing a refrigerator, energy costs play a crucial role in the decision-making process. Energy efficiency has become a significant focus, with labels providing information to consumers about the appliance’s energy efficiency and other performance factors. This serves the purpose of protecting consumers and the environment by addressing their informational needs.
Every technology is associated with undesirable side effects. The first refrigerators were operated with chloromethane (methyl chloride, CH3Cl), ammonia or sulphur dioxide; this caused problems with the storage of moving parts in the compressor and, in the event of leaks, the escape of toxic gases or deflagrations. From 1930, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were technically produced and soon used as refrigerants in refrigeration machines. This avoided the problems mentioned above. In the 1980s, the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica was discovered, and the scientific proof was obtained that CFCs were depleting the ozone layer.
Today, living in an intact environment is recognized as a human need. Here, too, the states assume a regulating protective function. In the Montreal Protocol, the signatory states committed to no longer using CFCs. The use of CFCs is now banned, which has led to the development and use of new refrigerants.
Even higher-value needs can be satisfied by buying a refrigerator. For example, the industry produces freezers that make fresh ice cubes at the touch of a button or smart fridges that send us a push message on our smartphone if we have left the door open or if certain food items need to be replenished. Refrigerator technology is responding to new trends such as sustainability and digitalization, and manufacturers are continuously developing it further.
Conclusion
The refrigerator example shows how QI services contribute to well-being at different levels of the needs pyramid. It is striking that the provision of QI services accompanies the changes in needs themselves. First, QI supported the safe functioning of the appliances, which made their mass production possible in the first place. This made it possible to satisfy basic needs for durable and healthy food.
The presence of refrigerators in almost all households, in turn, freed up resources to satisfy other needs. With sophisticated technology and design, advanced refrigerators can even be seen as a symbol of prestige and lifestyle.
Beyond satisfying individual needs, the QI also supports energy efficiency and the avoidance of environmentally harmful gases. In this way, the QI contributes to protecting the planet and humanity.
Overall, however, the contribution of QI to the satisfaction of individual and collective needs always depends on the requirements set by public, private-sector, and social actors. In this respect, QI services are a helpful instrument for achieving set goals.
Note
This text was inspired by a study developed under the framework of the Global Project Quality Infrastructure (GPQI), commissioned by German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
[1] https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Einkommen-Konsum-Lebensbedingungen/Ausstattung-Gebrauchsgueter/_inhalt.html (Retrieved 05/12/22).
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