Disentangling the Circularity in Sen's Capability Approach: An Analysis of the Co-Evolution of Functioning Achievement and Resources
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| Title: | Disentangling the Circularity in Sen's Capability Approach: An Analysis of the Co-Evolution of Functioning Achievement and Resources |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Binder, Martin, Coad, Alex |
| Source: | Social Indicators Research. Sep 2011 103(3):327-355. |
| Availability: | Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2011 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Social Theories, Economics, Well Being, Social Indicators, Sociometric Techniques, Social Influences, Social Environment, Surveys |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom (Great Britain) |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | British Household Panel Survey |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11205-010-9714-4 |
| ISSN: | 0303-8300 |
| Abstract: | There is an ambiguity in Amartya Sen's capability approach as to what constitutes an individual's resources, conversion factors and valuable functionings. What we here call the "circularity problem" points to the fact that all three concepts seem to be mutually endogenous and interdependent. To econometrically account for this entanglement we suggest a panel vector autoregression approach. We analyze the intertemporal interplay of the above factors over a time horizon of 15 years using the BHPS data set for Great Britain, measuring individual well-being in functionings space with a set of basic functionings, comprising "being happy", "being healthy", "being nourished", "moving about freely", "being well-sheltered" and "having satisfying social relations". We find that there are indeed functionings that are resources for many other functionings (viz. "being happy") while other functionings ("being well-sheltered" and "having satisfying social relations") are by and large independent, thus shedding light on a facet of the capability approach that has been neglected so far. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 61 |
| Entry Date: | 2011 |
| Accession Number: | EJ934566 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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