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Inequality and the capability approach

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  • Burchardt, Tania
  • Hick, Rod

Abstract

Inequality has acquired a newfound prominence in academic and political debate. While scholars working with the capability approach have succeeded in influencing the nature of debate about the conceptualisation and measurement of poverty, which is increasingly understood in multidimensional terms, the recent literature on inequality focusses overwhelmingly on economic forms of inequality, and especially on inequalities in income and wealth. In this paper we outline how and why the capability approach might be employed to provide a richer understanding of inequality, and of ‘advantage’ in particular. We also discuss three issues that arise when seeking to apply the capability approach to examine inequality rather than the more traditional concern with poverty. Addressing these issues is central to unlocking the potential that the capability approach has to enrich the understanding of inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Burchardt, Tania & Hick, Rod, 2017. "Inequality and the capability approach," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103504, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:103504
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/103504/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Lin, 2017. "The relationship between poverty and inequality: concepts and measurement," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103491, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Lin Yang, 2017. "The relationship between poverty and inequality: Concepts and measurement," CASE Papers /205, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    3. Nadimi, Reza & Tokimatsu, Koji, 2018. "Energy use analysis in the presence of quality of life, poverty, health, and carbon dioxide emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 671-684.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capability approach; Inequality; distribution; advantage; measurement; poverty; income; wealth; multidimensional;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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