IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/inrvec/v70y2023i2d10.1007_s12232-023-00414-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Interpersonal relationships, human development, and the trajectory of economic change: a social constructionist perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Mattia Tassinari

    (University of Macerata)

Abstract

The development of the human being and of the institutional and economic structures in which he or she lives does not take shape from the single individual, nor from society as a whole, but from the relationships between people within their daily life contexts, where aspirations, ideals, values, suffering, love, and solidarity, amongst other things, can be expressed and regarded. By adopting a social constructionist perspective, this article aims to describe the peculiar, irreplaceable role of interpersonal relationships in human development and economic change. By transmitting specific meanings, values, knowledge, and skills to individuals, interpersonal relationships—as highly personalised human interactions—can directly bolster people’s well-being, empowerment and resilience, foster cooperation, and prosocial behaviours, and shape the actions taken at the social, political and economic levels. This approach enriches the perspective on human development advanced by the literature on the capability approach and is adopted in the paper as a profitable lens for interpreting the process of structural change, making explicit the relevance of interpersonal relationships in shaping the trajectory of economic change.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattia Tassinari, 2023. "Interpersonal relationships, human development, and the trajectory of economic change: a social constructionist perspective," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 70(2), pages 177-193, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:inrvec:v:70:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s12232-023-00414-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12232-023-00414-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12232-023-00414-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12232-023-00414-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leonardo Becchetti & Alessandra Pelloni & Fiammetta Rossetti, 2008. "Relational Goods, Sociability, and Happiness," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 343-363, August.
    2. Luigino Bruni & Dalila De Rosa & Giovanni Ferri, 2021. "Cooperatives and happiness: cross-country evidence on the role of relational capital," Chapters, in: Luigino Bruni & Alessandra Smerilli & Dalila De Rosa (ed.), A Modern Guide to the Economics of Happiness, chapter 12, pages 243-278, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Sugden, Robert, 2006. "What We Desire, What We Have Reason to Desire, Whatever We Might Desire: Mill and Sen on the Value of Opportunity," Utilitas, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 33-51, March.
    4. Amartya Sen, 2004. "Capabilities, Lists, And Public Reason: Continuing The Conversation," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(3), pages 77-80.
    5. Sabina Alkire, 2010. "Human Development: Definitions, Critiques, and Related Concepts," Human Development Research Papers (2009 to present) HDRP-2010-01, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    6. Benedetto Gui & Luca Stanca, 2010. "Happiness and relational goods: well-being and interpersonal relations in the economic sphere," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 57(2), pages 105-118, June.
    7. Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Tassinari, Mattia & Barbieri, Elisa & Marozzi, Marco, 2020. "Selective industrial policy and ‘sustainable’ structural change. Discussing the political economy of sectoral priorities in the US," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 309-323.
    8. Acemoglu, Daron & Johnson, Simon & Robinson, James A., 2005. "Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 6, pages 385-472, Elsevier.
    9. Bianchi, Patrizio & Labory, Sandrine, 2019. "Manufacturing regimes and transitional paths: Lessons for industrial policy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 24-31.
    10. Luigino Bruni & Robert Sugden, 2007. "The road not taken: how psychology was removed from economics, and how it might be brought back," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 117(516), pages 146-173, January.
    11. Sabina Alkire, 2005. "Why the Capability Approach?," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 115-135.
    12. Ingrid Robeyns, 2005. "The Capability Approach: a theoretical survey," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 93-117.
    13. G. Hodgson, 2007. "What Are Institutions?," Voprosy Ekonomiki, NP Voprosy Ekonomiki, issue 8.
    14. 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.
    15. Sacco, Pier Luigi & Vanin, Paolo & Zamagni, Stefano, 2006. "The Economics of Human Relationships," Handbook on the Economics of Giving, Reciprocity and Altruism, in: S. Kolm & Jean Mercier Ythier (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Giving, Altruism and Reciprocity, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 9, pages 695-730, Elsevier.
    16. Mario Biggeri & Andrea Ferrannini & Caterina Arciprete, 2018. "Local Communities and Capability Evolution: The Core of Human Development Processes," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 126-146, April.
    17. Ferrannini, Andrea & Barbieri, Elisa & Biggeri, Mario & Di Tommaso, Marco R., 2021. "Industrial policy for sustainable human development in the post-Covid19 era," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    18. Galambos, Louis, 1983. "Technology, Political Economy, and Professionalization: Central Themes of the Organizational Synthesis," Business History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 57(4), pages 471-493, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sylvain K Cibangu, 2018. "Misunderstandings of Capability Approach: Towards Paradigm Pluralism," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 9(2), pages 54-72.
    2. Shepherd, Philippa M. & Dissart, Jean-Christophe, 2022. "Reframing vulnerability and resilience to climate change through the lens of capability generation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    3. Roberta Sferrazzo & Renato Ruffini, 2021. "Are Liberated Companies a Concrete Application of Sen’s Capability Approach?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 329-342, May.
    4. Jürgen Volkert & Friedrich Schneider, 2011. "The Application of the Capability Approach to High-Income OECD Countries: A Preliminary Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 3364, CESifo.
    5. Marco Setti & Matteo Garuti, 2018. "Identity, Commons and Sustainability: An Economic Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Yahya Z. ALSHEHHI, 2017. "Achievements In Terms Of Human Development Dimensions," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 13, pages 109-125, May.
    7. Pelenc, Jérôme, 2014. "Combining the capability approach and Max-Neef’s needs approach for a better assessment of multidimensional well-being and inequalities: a case study perspective with vulnerable teenagers of the regio," MPRA Paper 66277, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Julie A. Nelson, "undated". "Getting Past "Rational Man/Emotional Woman": How Far Have Research Programs in Happiness and Interpersonal Relations Progressed?," GDAE Working Papers 09-07, GDAE, Tufts University.
    9. Costantini, Valeria & Liberati, Paolo, 2014. "Technology transfer, institutions and development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 26-48.
    10. Barkema, Harry G. & Bindl, Uta & Tanveer, Lamees, 2024. "How entrepreneurs achieve purpose beyond profit: the case of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119716, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Claudia Kettner-Marx & Angela Köppl & Sigrid Stagl, 2014. "Towards an Operational Measurement of Socio-ecological Performance. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 52," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 47154, August.
    12. Pelenc, Jérôme & Ballet, Jérôme, 2015. "Strong sustainability, critical natural capital and the capability approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 36-44.
    13. James Foster, Christopher Handy, 2008. "External Capabilities," OPHI Working Papers 8, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    14. Antonio Andreoni & Ha-Joon Chang & Isabel Estevez, 2021. "The Missing Dimensions of the Human Capabilities Approach: Collective and Productive," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(2), pages 179-205, April.
    15. Cian O’Donovan & Aleksandra (Ola) Michalec & Joshua R Moon, 2022. "Capabilities for transdisciplinary research," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(1), pages 145-158.
    16. Ferrannini, Andrea & Barbieri, Elisa & Biggeri, Mario & Di Tommaso, Marco R., 2021. "Industrial policy for sustainable human development in the post-Covid19 era," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    17. Pelenc, Jérôme, 2014. "Développement humain responsable et aménagement du territoire. Réflexions à partir de deux réserves de biosphère périurbaines en France et au Chili [Responsible Human Development and Land-Use Plann," MPRA Paper 56094, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Julie Nelson, 2010. "Getting past “rational man/emotional woman”: comments on research programs in happiness economics and interpersonal relations," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 57(2), pages 233-253, June.
    19. Bellucci, Marco & Biggeri, Mario & Nitti, Carmela & Terenzi, Linda, 2023. "Accounting for disability and work inclusion in tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    20. Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Prodi, Elena & Pollio, Chiara & Barbieri, Elisa, 2023. "Conceptualizing and measuring “industry resilience”: Composite indicators for postshock industrial policy decision-making," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interpersonal relationships; Human development; Institutions; Economic structure; Structural change; Social constructionism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:inrvec:v:70:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s12232-023-00414-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.