Inequality and the capability approach Tania Burchardt

Inequality and the capability approach

• Tania Burchardt

• ESRC Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion

• London School of Economics

Outline

• Values, concepts, measurement and policy

• Autonomy and capability

• Critiques of the capability approach

• Measurement problems and possibilities

• Policy-making in a capabilities framework

• Social policy in conflict

The value of individual autonomy

• Aristotle: eudemonia, human flourishing

• Marx: communist society “makes it possible for me to do one thing today, and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have a mind”

• Theory of human need (Doyal and Gough): critical participation in chosen form of life

Capability approach

• Broad evaluative framework

• Focus on what individuals are able to be and do

• Functioning = actual activity or state of being eg being healthy

• Functioning vector = combination of functionings at any one time eg caring for elderly parent AND being healthy

• Capability set = set of alternative functioning vectors available to an individual eg (caring for elderly parent AND being healthy) OR (receiving care services AND being healthy AND being in paid work)

Relationship to other conceptions of equality of opportunity

Criticisms of the capability approach

• Individualistic

• normative individualism, not methodological

• Perfectionist

• Nussbaum: fulfilling potential
• Sen & social model of disability

• Incomplete

• a virtue??

• Unoriginal

• synthesis of: (i) multidimensional human ends, (ii) importance of effective freedom, (iii) role of institutions and system of entitlements

• Unworkable

Measurement problems and possibilities: 1

• Which capabilities?

Measurement problems and possibilities: 2

• Distinguishing lack of capability and free choice

Measurement problems and possibilities: 2

• Distinguishing lack of capability and free choice

Proposed hierarchy for analysis of gender inequality in Britain: Robeyns (2003)

• Basic

• physical & mental health; bodily integrity & safety; shelter & environment; respect

• Intermediate

• education & knowledge; mobility; leisure; religion; time-autonomy

• Complex

• social relations; political empowerment; domestic and care work; paid work

Measurement problems and possibilities: 2

• Distinguishing lack of capability and free choice

Policy-making in a capabilities framework: 1

• In practice...

• UNDP Human Development Reports

• index of life expectancy, literacy/school enrolment, and GDP per capita
• HDR 2005 detailed examination of inequality within rich nations, eg infant mortality by ethnicity in US

• Development projects in the global South

• Germany’s National Action Plan

Social policy in a divided society

• Measurement of inequality is normative: no technical fixes

• Job of social science to make implicit values explicit; to illustrate consequences of alternatives

• Indicators and policies grounded in clear conceptual framework

• Values → concepts → measures → policies: especially important where there is a history of conflict?