The Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU) is in many ways unique. In LNU 1968, individuals were for the first time posed questions about their actual living conditions (rather than about their subjective evaluations). Based on the idea that different types of resources give the individual the ability to control and direct her living conditions, one in one thousand aged 15-75 (later on 18-75) replied to questions about their adolescence, family, education, work, health, financial situation, housework and spare time. With the panel approach, individuals’ living conditions can be followed over time and the exploration of causal mechanisms is facilitated. Later waves of LNU in 1974, 1981, 1991 and 2000 have also been characterized by innovation. The period between the waves is nowadays covered by retrospective biographies of family relations, education and work. In addition, the sample has been expanded to include partners and children of the respondents. However, LNU is also characterized by tradition; a number of welfare indicators have remained the same over the years and these indicators now give LNU a historical value. The living conditions of the population can be described and analyzed for five consecutive decades. It is important that these time series are not interrupted and therefore a sixth wave will be carried out, LNU 2010. By further expanding the sample frame, the living conditions of immigrants and the transition from adolescence to adult age will be explored