The principle of equality of capabilities developed by Sen and Nussbaum aims at providing a new conception of equality of opportunity, alternative to the major criteria so far formulated, and in the first place to the principle deriving from equality of resources. Recently, however, the innovative character of the Sen and Nussbaum principle has come under growing attack. Focusing on Sen’s version, the article first outlines the main features of the principle, and then goes on to single out and discuss some similarities with the other principles. The thesis is that, notwithstanding some similarities and various open problems, equality of capabilities represents an innovative distributive principle.
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Article provided by Associazione Rossi Doria in its journal QA.
Find related papers by JEL classification: D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - General