Measuring capabilities an empirical investigation of the sen-nussbaum approach to well-being

Hunter, William Mitchell Graham (2010). Measuring capabilities an empirical investigation of the sen-nussbaum approach to well-being. PhD thesis The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0000d3d1

Abstract

This thesis argues for the view that Amartya Sen's capabilities approach is a preferable approach to the measurement of welfare by addressing three questions:

can the capability approach be operationalised?
what is the relationship between capabilities and satisfaction with life.?
how do capabilities respond to changes over time?

Chapter 1 provides a discussion of a widely used economic evaluation model of welfare focussing on some of its key problems and concludes with a discussion of Sen's alternative capabilities approach.

Chapter 2 discusses the three key relationships that Sen uses in evaluating wellbeing and discusses the identification of capabilities based on the account developed by Martha Nussbaum.