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Capability, Opportunity, Outcome - - And Equality

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  • Kanbur, Ravi

Abstract

Two fundamental attributes of the capability approach are (i) a broadening of the evaluation space from the instrumental means such as income to the intrinsic ends of beings and doings, or functionings; and (ii) the further broadening of evaluation from achievement of ends to opportunity to achieve those ends—from functionings to capabilities. This paper accepts the first broadening but presents a critique of the opportunity perspective in capability theory, using as a platform a critique of recent work on inequality of opportunity. The paper argues that similar critiques of concept and empirical application apply to capability analysis as an analysis and an evaluation of opportunity. Perhaps for this reason, much of the practical implementation of capability theory ends up by in fact focusing only on outcomes in functionings space, with only a loose link to opportunity.

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  • Kanbur, Ravi, 2016. "Capability, Opportunity, Outcome - - And Equality," Working Papers 250027, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:cudawp:250027
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.250027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, Jose M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 9 - Distribution and Dynamics," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp090_ch9.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Anand & Swati Saxena & Rolando Gonzales Martinez & Hai-Anh H. Dang, 2020. "Can Women’s Self-help Groups Contribute to Sustainable Development? Evidence of Capability Changes from Northern India," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 137-160, April.
    2. Anjan Ray Chaudhury & Dipankar Das & Sreemanta Sarkar, 2023. "Complementarity in Demand-side Variables and Educational Participation," Papers 2303.04647, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2023.
    3. Anand, Paul & Jones, Sam & Donoghue, Matthew & Tietler, Julien, 2021. "Non-monetary poverty and deprivation: a capability approach," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103168, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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