Amartya Sen’s "Capability Approach" to Development | Philosophy Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

A Model Beyond Economic Growth

Amartya Sen's Capability theory has gained prominence over the last decade as an alternative model for progress and development that extends beyond the conventional focus on economic and industrial growth. Unlike traditional models that emphasize economic outputs, Sen's Capability Approach (CA) centers on human capabilities, focusing on the well-being and functioning of individuals. This approach has been recognized for its potential to address complex issues such as poverty and inequality, which economic tools alone cannot adequately tackle.

1. People-Centric Focus: The Capability Approach shifts the focus from goods and resources (the inputs) to people and their capabilities (the end-results). It considers individuals as ends in themselves, valuing their well-being and quality of life over economic growth.
2. Normative Framework: The CA serves as a normative framework for assessing social arrangements, social justice, equality, and the overall quality of life. It guides the design of policies aimed at reducing social exclusion and inequalities.
3. Flexibility: Sen's approach is both comprehensive and flexible, accommodating a wide range of factors that influence human capabilities. It recognizes that human abilities vary due to factors such as age, sex, race, class, health, intelligence, and education. Moreover, it considers external influences from social arrangements, access to infrastructure and public services, participation in social and political activities, freedom of speech, and the ability to influence state policies.
4. Holistic Perspective: The CA takes into account a broad spectrum of factors - personal, economic, social, political, and environmental - that can potentially affect human capabilities, ultimately determining people's real well-being. It is a holistic human development model that considers the multifaceted nature of human welfare.
5. Influence on Policy and Measurement: Amartya Sen's Capability Approach has had a substantial impact on policy-making and measurement. It inspired the creation of the Human Development Index (HDI) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990. The HDI provides an alternative measure of human progress, taking into account factors beyond GDP growth, and has played a significant role in advancing alternative ideas about development and welfare.
6. Application Beyond Welfare Economics: While Sen is commonly associated with welfare economics, his approach has found increasing application in the analysis of social policies in economically advanced nations. It has been used for policy assessment and development in countries like France, indicating its versatility and relevance in diverse contexts.

Conclusion
Amartya Sen's Capability Approach represents a departure from traditional development models that primarily focus on economic growth. It offers a more people-centric and comprehensive perspective on development, acknowledging the complex web of factors that influence human capabilities and well-being. This approach has implications for social justice, policy design, and the assessment of human development, and it has made significant contributions to the broader discourse on what constitutes genuine progress and development.

How a Rich Country Can Have Poor Human Life

It may seem paradoxical, but a country can be economically wealthy, with a high per capita GDP, and still have a poor quality of human life. This paradox can be explained in three key ways:

1. Multidimensional Nature of Well-Being: Human well-being is a multidimensional concept that cannot be adequately captured by wealth or income alone. Conventional economic measures, such as GDP, provide an incomplete picture of people's quality of life. They do not consider how well individuals live or the equitable distribution of economic resources and well-being among various social groups.
2. Conversion of Resources into Capabilities: Merely having access to goods and services does not guarantee that people can effectively convert them into capabilities or functionings. For example, owning a bicycle can facilitate mobility, but a person with physical disabilities may struggle to convert this resource into the functioning of mobility. Similarly, a country may experience significant economic growth, but if this wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, it may not lead to improved well-being for the majority of the population.
3. Inequality and Social Exclusion: Economic growth often overlooks inequalities and injustices that result in social exclusion. Social exclusion is not solely a matter of individuals being without jobs or income in the present; it also encompasses the lack of prospects for a better future. It considers people's expectations of future improvement and empowerment. Thus, even in economically rich countries, social inequalities and exclusion can persist, leading to poor human life quality.

Amartya Sen's Perspective on Democracy and Authoritative Regimes

Amartya Sen emphasizes the critical role of democracy in promoting human well-being. He does not limit democracy to mere voting and elections among different political parties but views it as "government by discussion." Sen argues that genuine democracy entails active participation, public reasoning, and the protection of individual freedoms.
Sen highlights the importance of democracy in addressing issues such as famine. He points out that "no major famine has ever occurred in a functioning democracy with regular elections, opposition parties, basic freedom of speech, and a relatively free media." He cites historical examples, such as the end of famines in the British Indian Empire after the establishment of democracy.

Functionings and Capabilities in the Capability Approach

Amartya Sen's Capability Approach focuses on people's well-being by considering what they can actually do and be. It distinguishes between two key concepts: functionings and capabilities.

1. Functionings: Functionings refer to what individuals "do and are" in their lives. They are the concrete achievements or activities that individuals engage in or the states of being they experience. These achievements include being well-nourished, having shelter, being literate, having access to healthcare, being part of a community, and being respected. Functionings are tangible indicators of people's quality of life.
2. Capabilities: Capabilities represent the set of valuable functionings that a person has the effective freedom to achieve. Capabilities are the opportunities that individuals have to live the lives they value. They encompass the various combinations of functionings that individuals can attain, reflecting their freedom to choose. Capabilities are the potential avenues for people to lead a life of value.

The key distinction between functionings and capabilities is that while functionings focus on the tangible outcomes of people's lives, capabilities emphasize the opportunities and freedoms that individuals possess. Sen argues that poverty should be viewed in terms of a shortfall in basic capabilities or basic capability failures, such as the inability to achieve essential functionings like proper nourishment and shelter.

Applications of the Capability Approach

The Capability Approach has found numerous applications in various areas, including poverty measurement, well-being assessment, social justice analysis, gender studies, social exclusion, health, disability, child poverty, and identity. This approach has been used to investigate group disparities based on gender, race, class, caste, age, and other factors, revealing profound inequalities in life expectancy, nutrition, literacy, and more.
Empirical studies within the Capability Approach have been categorized into three main areas:

1. Measurement of Poverty and Well-Being: The CA has been applied to the measurement of poverty and well-being, leading to the development of measures like the Human Development Index (HDI), which includes income, life expectancy, and education.
2. Link Between Income and Capabilities: Research has explored the relationships between income (or expenditure) and various capabilities, highlighting that income and capabilities do not always align.
3. Group Disparities and Inequalities: The CA has been instrumental in revealing gross disparities in life conditions and functionings along lines of gender, race, class, caste, and age.

In summary, the Capability Approach offers a multidimensional perspective on well-being and development, taking into account the diverse factors that influence people's capabilities and their real quality of life. This approach goes beyond traditional economic measures and highlights the significance of individual freedoms and opportunities in enhancing human well-being.