A balanced view of development as freedom
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Date
2001-10Metadata
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- Discussion papers (SAM) [667]
Abstract
Amartya Sen, in his most recent book Development as Freedom, argues
that expansion of human freedom should both be viewed as the primary end
and the principle means of development. This paper provides an overview
and a critical scrutiny of the Senian perspective from the point of view of an
economist. First, I discuss to what extent Sen's normative theory of development
justifies a particular focus on inequality and poverty. Second, I look at
Sen's perspective on democratic reasoning as the constructive vehicle for valuational
exercises, and in particular how this perspective fits with the recent
human development framework of UNDP. Third, I discuss the relevance of
markets within the freedom approach, and fourth I review some of the most
important empirical interconnections between different freedoms studied by Sen.
Publisher
Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. Department of EconomicsSeries
Discussion paper2001:24