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Flourishing lives: the capabilities approach as a framework for new thinking about employment, work and welfare in the 21st century

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  • Michael Orton

    (University of Warwick, UKÂ Â Michael.Orton@warwick.ac.uk)

Abstract

Even before the onset of economic downturn in 2008–9, UK policy on employment, work and welfare had reached an impasse, with little evidence of new ideas, either in relation to the final years of New Labour or the Coalition Government, as to how to tackle deeply entrenched problems beyond adherence to neo-liberalism. This article explores whether a capabilities approach, as originally developed in the work of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, offers a potential framework for new thinking. It is argued that the capabilities approach is best thought of not as offering a detailed road map for policy, but as providing a critically different conceptualization of the purpose and principles of public policy. In seeking an alternative to neo-liberal hegemony a capabilities approach therefore can provide a framework for new thinking, and an underpinning ideological narrative from which policy development can flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Orton, 2011. "Flourishing lives: the capabilities approach as a framework for new thinking about employment, work and welfare in the 21st century," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 25(2), pages 352-360, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:25:y:2011:i:2:p:352-360
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017011403848
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sen, Amartya, 2009. "Capitalism Beyond the Crisis," Scholarly Articles 2961699, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    2. Dean, Hartley & Bonvin, Jean-Michel & Vielle, Pascale & Farvaque, Nicolas, 2005. "Developing capabilities and rights in welfare-to-work policies," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 3447, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Martha Nussbaum, 2003. "Capabilities As Fundamental Entitlements: Sen And Social Justice," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2-3), pages 33-59.
    4. Solava Ibrahim, 2006. "From Individual to Collective Capabilities: The Capability Approach as a Conceptual Framework for Self-help," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 397-416.
    5. Jean-Michel Bonvin, 2008. "Activation Policies: New Modes of Governance and the Issue of Responsibility," Godishnik na UNSS, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 1, pages 383-394, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ángel Díaz-Chao & Pilar Ficapal-Cusí & Joan Torrent-Sellens, 2016. "Economic Crisis and Job Quality in Spain: A Multi-dimensional and Micro-data Empirical Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 613-633, January.

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