Subjective Well-Being Capabilities: Bridging the Gap Between the Capability Approach and Subjective Well-Being Research

Abstract

As a result of the disenchantment with traditional income-based measures of welfare, alternative welfare measures have gained increasing attention in recent years. Two of the most prominent measures of well-being come from subjective well-being research and the (objective) capability approach. Despite their promising features, both approaches have a number of weaknesses when considered on their own. This paper sets out to examine to what extent a fusion between both approaches can overcome the weaknesses of both individual approaches. It uses features of the capability framework to enrich what is basically a subjective well-being perspective. Key drawbacks of normative subjective well-being views can be overcome by focussing welfare assessments on “Subjective Well-being Capabilities”, i.e. focussing on the substantive opportunities of individuals to pursue and achieve happiness.