Friendship, knowledge of foreign groups, the ability to purchase milk and shoes, the scent of summer roses: of what interest is this type of information to economists? Sabina Alkire shows how Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen's capability approach can be coherently---and practically---put to work in poverty reduction activities. Sen argues that economic development should expand 'valuable' freedoms. Alkire probes how we identify what is valuable. Foundational issues are addressed critically---dimensions of development, practical reason, culture, basic needs---drawing on Thomist authors who give central place to authentic participation. A participatory procedure for identifying capability change is then developed. Case studies of three Oxfam activities in Pakistan---goat-rearing, female literacy, and rose cultivation---illustrate this novel approach. Valuing Freedoms will be of considerable interest to economists, philosophers, development practitioners, and theologians, as well as to followers of Sen's work.

About the Author
Sabina Alkire is currently a researcher with the Global Equity Initiative, Harvard University. Previously she has worked for the Commission on Human Security, coordinated the culture-poverty learning and research initiative at the World Bank, and developed participatory impact assessment methodologies with Oxfam and the Asia Foundation in Pakistan.

Reviews
"Valuing Freedoms is a major contribution to the further development and advancement of the capability approach. This book is very careful and accurate in its explanation of Sen's work...this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to take the capability approach forward, and it will certainly become a reference point for much future work in this area." * Ingrid Robeyns, Economics and Philosophy, November 2003 *
"Sabina Alkire has written an insightful, ambitous and stimulating book on Amartya Sen's capability approach." * Bertil Tongodden, International Development Ethics Association *
"This is an ambitious and challenging book." * Scott A. Anderson, Ethics, April 2003 *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199283316
Author Sabina Alkire
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 511g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 19mm