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Irreducibly social goods and the informational basis of Amartya Sen's capability approach

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  • CHARLES GORE

    (UNCTAD, Division on Globalization and Development Strategies, Macro-economic and Development Policies Branch, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland)

Abstract

This paper argues that Sen's capability approach requires that judgements about the relative goodness of states of affairs must be based exclusively on 'properties' of individuals. Functionings and capabilities are seen, like utility and opulence, as objects of value which individuals have-achieved or attainable effects which are disembedded from the institutional contexts of human activity. If such contexts are intrinsically valuable for individual well-being, as some 'communitarians' argue, the capability approach is inappropriate for assessing social justice, societal well-being and development, and inequalities in individual well-being across cultures or in multicultural societies. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Gore, 1997. "Irreducibly social goods and the informational basis of Amartya Sen's capability approach," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(2), pages 235-250.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:9:y:1997:i:2:p:235-250
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1328(199703)9:2<235::AID-JID436>3.0.CO;2-J
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sen, Amartya, 1988. "The concept of development," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 1, pages 9-26, Elsevier.
    2. Sen, Amartya, 1984. "The Living Standard," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 36(0), pages 74-90, Supplemen.
    3. Sen, Amartya, 1993. "Markets and Freedoms: Achievements and Limitations of the Market Mechanism in Promoting Individual Freedoms," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 45(4), pages 519-541, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Des Gasper, 2002. "Is Sen's Capability Approach an Adequate Basis for Considering Human Development?," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 435-461.
    2. Ballet, Jérôme & Marchand, Lucile & Pelenc, Jérôme & Vos, Robin, 2018. "Capabilities, Identity, Aspirations and Ecosystem Services: An Integrated Framework," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 21-28.
    3. Gore, Charles, 2000. "The Rise and Fall of the Washington Consensus as a Paradigm for Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 789-804, May.
    4. Miguel Sanchez-Martinez & Philip Davis, 2014. "A review of the economic theories of poverty," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 435, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    5. Ntogwa N. Bundala, 2019. "Sensitivity Analysis of Operational Priorities," Sumerianz Journal of Economics and Finance, Sumerianz Publication, vol. 2(7), pages 62-81, 07-2019.
    6. Marco Grasso & Enzo Di Giulio, 2003. "Mapping sustainable development in a capability perspective," HEW 0309001, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Des Gasper, 1997. "Sen's capability approach and Nussbaum's cpabilities ethic," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(2), pages 281-302.
    8. Stefano Pareglio & Alessandro Vaglio & Marco Grasso & Stefania Migliavacca & Enzo Di Giulio, 2005. "Modelling sustainable human development in a capability perspective," Public Economics 0504008, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Sebastian Silva-Leander, 2011. "On the Possibility of Measuring Freedom: A Kantian Perspective," OPHI Working Papers 49, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    10. Jocelyn Dejong, 2006. "Capabilities, reproductive health and well-being," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(7), pages 1158-1179.
    11. Des Gasper & John Cameron, 2000. "Assessing and extending the work of Amartya Sen," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(7), pages 985-988.
    12. Mozaffar Qizilbash, 2014. "Are modern philosophical accounts of well-being excessively ‘individualistic’?," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 61(2), pages 173-189, June.
    13. Gasper, D.R., 2002. "Is Sen's Capability Approach an Adequate Basis for Considering Human Development," ISS Working Papers - General Series 50674, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    14. Jocelyn DeJong & University of Manchester, 2005. "Capabilities, Reproductive Health and Well-being," Economics Series Working Papers GPRG-WPS-005, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    15. Maluf, Renato S., 1998. "Economic development and the food question in Latin America," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 155-172, April.
    16. Richardson, Jeff & McKie, John, 2005. "Empiricism, ethics and orthodox economic theory: what is the appropriate basis for decision-making in the health sector?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(2), pages 265-275, January.

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