An Evaluation on The Criticism of Amartya Sens Development Approach

Abstract

The traditional development economics that emerged after the Second World War explained development with quantitative variables such as income or growth. In the neoliberal development policies after 1980, it was assumed that development would occur spontaneously by removing the barriers to the market. Amartya Sen approaches development economics differently from both traditional and neoliberal understandings. Sen criticizes the way development is handled by quantitative changes such as income growth and growth in traditional development economics, and defines development as the expansion of capabilities/freedoms. His criticisms of traditional development economics have led to the questioning of dominant theories and their loss of importance. As a result of these criticisms and the new concepts he developed, Sen's understanding of development has been discussed or criticized in different forms by different groups and schools. Thus, the advantages or difficulties of the understanding of development were tried to be made clear. Applicability of the capability approach, what the capability list should content, and also how Sen handle the concepts of freedom, democracy and power have been criticized. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which Sen differ from traditional development economics and whether he offers a viable alternative in the light of the criticisms directed to Sen's understanding of development.