Commodities and Capabilities - Couverture souple

Sen, Amartya K.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0444877304 ISBN 13 : 9780444877307

Editeur : Elsevier Science Ltd, 1985

Synopsis

This monograph explores the foundations of welfare economics - in particular the assessment of personal well-being and advantage. Arguments are presented against the usual concentration on ``utility'' (as in traditional welfare economics) and on ``opulence'' (as in ``real income'' estimations and other normative measurements). An alternative framework is developed for the analysis of personal well-being based on assessing ``functionings'' and the ``capability to function'' - i.e. what a person can do or can be. The functionings considered vary from such basic biological performances as ``being well-nourished'' to such social achievements as ``being able to take part in the life of the community''. This exercise of comparing achievements and capabilities provides a structure for inter-personal comparisons of well-being. The book's critical appraisal of traditional methods combined with a newly developed framework throws new light on comparisons of well-being, and aids assessment of some international contrasts.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Commodities and Capabilities presents a set of inter-related theses concerning the foundations of welfare economics, and in particular about the assessment of personal well-being and advantage. The argument presented focuses on the capability to function, i.e. what a person can do or can be, questioning in the process the more standard emphasis on opulence or on utility. In fact, a person's motivation behind choice is treated here as a parametric variable which may or may not coincide with the pursuit of self-interest. Given the large number of practical problems arising from the roles and limitations of different concepts of interest and the judgement of advantage and well-being, this scholarly investigation is both of theoretical interest and practical import.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Elsevier Science Ltd
• Date d'édition: 1985
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0444877304
• ISBN 13: 9780444877307
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 142
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible