Capability Approach / Poverty as Capability Deprivation – Amartya Sen

Summary

In this video, Mini Sethi explains Amartya Sen's Capability Approach, emphasizing that poverty is not just a lack of income but a deprivation of capabilities—the freedom and opportunity to achieve what individuals value. Sen’s theory highlights the role of governments in promoting education, healthcare, and social justice to improve individual capabilities. Through comparisons between India and Sub-Saharan Africa, the video shows the complexities of poverty, with a focus on human development and the limitations of solely income-based measures of well-being. The video also addresses the challenges of implementing the approach and prioritizing capabilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Amartya Kumar Sen's Capability Approach focuses on the idea that poverty is not just a lack of income but a deprivation of individual capabilities.
• 😀 According to Sen, poverty is the inability to achieve what individuals have reason to value, limiting their freedom and opportunities for fulfillment.
• 😀 Sen argues that economic development should prioritize improving individual capabilities and freedom, not just increasing national income.
• 😀 Government intervention is vital in enhancing people's capabilities through provisions like basic healthcare, education, and promoting social justice.
• 😀 In countries like the USA and Europe, while unemployment rates may vary, income inequality and other factors complicate determining which country is more developed.
• 😀 Poverty and deprivation of capabilities are major issues in countries like India and Sub-Saharan Africa, with differences in life expectancy, literacy, and nutrition.
• 😀 The Capability Approach emphasizes the importance of health, education, and political participation as essential factors in development, alongside income.
• 😀 The difference between 'functionings' (valuable things people can achieve) and 'capabilities' (freedom and opportunity to achieve those things) is central to Sen's theory.
• 😀 The Capability Approach suggests that true economic development focuses on human well-being by enhancing people's freedom and opportunities, not just increasing income.
• 😀 While the Capability Approach has strong applications in global development, challenges like defining and measuring capabilities and local context understanding make implementation complex.

Q & A

What is the Capability Approach by Amartya Kumar Sen?

The Capability Approach, developed by Amartya Kumar Sen, focuses on the idea that poverty is not just the lack of income, but the deprivation of capabilities, or the freedom to achieve what individuals have reason to value in life.

How does Sen define poverty in his Capability Approach?

Sen defines poverty as the deprivation of an individual's ability to achieve what they have reason to value, meaning that poverty is not just about income, but about the lack of freedom and opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

Why does Sen argue that income alone is not a sufficient measure of well-being?

Sen argues that income alone does not capture the full picture of well-being because it doesn't consider the actual freedom or capabilities of individuals to lead lives they value, such as access to education, healthcare, and the ability to make choices.

What role does the government play in boosting economic development according to Sen's Capability Approach?

According to Sen, the government plays a crucial role in promoting economic development by focusing on enhancing individual capabilities, such as providing access to healthcare, education, social justice, and equality.

How does Sen's Capability Approach apply to the comparison between the USA and Europe?

Sen's Capability Approach suggests that it is difficult to compare the development of countries like the USA and Europe purely based on economic indicators like income, as issues such as unemployment and income inequality also play a crucial role in determining well-being and development.

How does poverty manifest differently in India and Sub-Saharan Africa?

Both India and Sub-Saharan Africa face poverty, but they do so in different ways. India has a higher life expectancy and better literacy rates but struggles with regional disparities, such as high mortality rates in certain states. Sub-Saharan Africa, while facing severe poverty, has challenges like lower literacy rates and food insecurity.

What are the key highlights of the Capability Approach?

The Capability Approach distinguishes between 'functionings' (the valuable beings and doings in life) and 'capabilities' (the freedom to achieve those functionings). It emphasizes the role of freedom in improving well-being and highlights the importance of a wide range of capabilities, not just income, in determining economic development.

How does the Capability Approach relate to human development?

The Capability Approach is closely tied to human development as it focuses on the development of individuals by enhancing their capabilities. It suggests that improving individual capabilities in areas like education, healthcare, and political participation leads to broader economic and societal growth.

What are some applications of the Capability Approach in global development?

The Capability Approach can be applied in global development reforms in areas such as education, technology, and food security. It promotes human development by focusing on the expansion of capabilities and ensuring that individuals have the freedom to lead fulfilling lives.

What are some criticisms of the Capability Approach?

Criticisms of the Capability Approach include the complexity of defining and measuring capabilities, the difficulty in implementing the approach in policies and programs, and the subjectivity in deciding which capabilities are most important and how to prioritize them.