Amartya Sen's Capability Research Articles

Gender Affirmative Actions and Greater Participation Female in Politics: Overcoming “Inaptitudes” With Amartya Sen

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate affirmative actions within the framework of John Rawls' and Amartya Sen's theories, with the aim of analyzing how these theories have influenced the strengthening of the idea of human dignity in contemporary times and the promotion of female political participation. Theoretical Framework: This section presents the main concepts and theories that underpin the research. The focus is on John Rawls' theories of justice and Amartya Sen's capabilities approach, providing a solid foundation for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises a jurisprudential review and an analysis grounded in a dialectical perspective. Data collection was conducted through the analysis of judicial cases and legal documents, particularly within the Brazilian context of fictitious candidacies and the demand for the implementation of gender equality policies. Results and Discussion: The results revealed the necessity for decisions by national courts in cases of gender quota fraud to also be based on a gender perspective. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights on how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of gender equality in politics. These implications may encompass the formulation of public policies and judicial actions in cases of electoral fraud. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by proposing the maintenance of legitimately elected female candidates who did not participate in electoral fraud, and, from this number, the recalculation of the legal quota proportionality, as a means of strengthening the fundamental right to gender equality. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by the potential application of its results in improving the effectiveness of affirmative actions in the political context.

On (not) being literate enough: The literacy experiences and literacy programme needs of people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness

AbstractThis paper is focussed on literacy and the literacy experiences of people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Drawing on 23 in‐depth interviews with people who have lived experience of homelessness in Sydney, Australia, the paper examines literacy, literacy needs and interest in literacy programmes from a social practice perspective of literacy. Amartya Sen's (1999) capability approach is drawn on to examine the multidimensional barriers that impede access to literacy. Our findings show literacy needs and how literacy is understood and valued in the lives of people with lived experience of homelessness. We show the ways that spatial and temporal conditions enable and create (im)possibilities for the realisation of literacy as a capability. We also discuss how the capability is imagined to fit into existing worlds, as both an instrumental tool, as well as for personal satisfaction and broader participation in social life. Our interviewees also point to the possibilities of literacy learning and programmes supporting the realisation of other capabilities, emphasising the prospects of achieving multiple capability realisations through program design. We show how the findings bear out the principles of a social practices pedagogy in adult literacy programmes.

A methodological application of the capability approach to investigate access to multimodal public transport information in a hybrid network

While information and communications technologies offer avenues for disseminating information to help passengers navigate multimodal systems, they also come with challenges in the form of usefulness of information content, imbalances in information supply across modes, and barriers to information access. This paper reflects on the design of a mixed methods approach framed within Amartya Sen's capability approach for investigating and addressing these challenges. Using Cape Town, South Africa as a lens of study, this paper investigates user information needs, technology capabilities related to mobility information, and informational capabilities of captive public transport users to access multimodal mobility information through technology.

Exploring Amartya Sen's Capability Approach

The article delves into the Capability Approach, exploring its concepts and applications, illustrated through its adaptation to climate change challenges in Indonesia. The objective is to enhance understanding and illustrate its effectiveness in addressing climate change impacts. Proposed by Amartya Sen, the Capability Approach provides a holistic view of societal well-being by empowering individuals or groups to achieve life goals. It encompasses various abilities for decent living, including education, health, and freedom. Emphasizing capability enhancement, it transcends economic measures to consider essential aspects shaping human life. Insights into climate change adaptation reveal the Capability Approach's ability to identify the most vulnerable social groups. The article suggests solutions: enhancing capabilities in vulnerable groups and promoting sustainable economic development. By understanding and improving capabilities, along with fostering sustainable economic development, the Capability Approach offers a pathway to address climate change impacts and achieve long-term resilience.

Beyond legislation: Unpacking land access capability in small-scale mining and its intersections with the agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa

The complex relationship between mining and agriculture in Africa is deeply rooted in a complex network of spatial, political, and socio-economic dynamics. In Ghana, for instance, the forest agroecological zone, responsible for 57 % of food crop production, coincides with 61 % of mineral-rich areas. This overlap leads to significant implications, such as competition and conflicts over land, as both livelihood activities rely on a finite natural resource: land. To examine land access politics at the intersections of mining and agriculture using Ghana as a case study, we adopt a unique blend of Amartya Sen's capability approach and political ecology approach. Our study draws on secondary information, on-site observations, and primary data acquired from interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders in both sectors. Through the lens of political ecology, our research highlights the significant powers of state actors, especially in the mining sector, on land access, exacerbating tensions and conflicts among non-state actors like small-scale miners, smallholder farmers, and traditional authorities. Additionally, by applying the capability approach, we uncover the diverse agency-driven strategies employed by non-state actors, sometimes operating outside existing laws, and we emphasize the competitive dynamics between small-scale miners and smallholder farmers as they vie for land resources to support their economic activities. We therefore argue that the spatial and socio-economic interconnectedness of mining and agriculture is rife with dramatic tensions underpinned by unequal power relations and a hierarchical structure of actors within the two sectors, with potential for zero-sum or worse than zero-sum outcomes for humans and the physical environment at multiple scales.

CAN THE WELFARE OF HINDU CLERGY IN BALI BE ASSESSED USING AMARTYA SEN'S CAPABILITY APPROACH

The movement space of Sulinggih, the Balinese Hindu clergy, is severely restricted in various aspects due to the rules set by the Balinese community to preserve its sanctity. These social rules dictate that Sulinggih must relinquish secular work and focus solely on religious activities. This study aims to explore the applicability of Amartya Sen's Capability Approach theory in analyzing the well-being of Hindu clergy in Bali. The research employs a qualitative method, specifically a literature study. The study reviews the variables identified by Amartya Sen in his writings and studies, which have also been further examined by economists. Based on the analysis, this study proposes a conceptual framework to elucidate and predict how the variables in Sen's theory influence the welfare outcomes of Hindu clergy in Bali. The framework considers commodities and capabilities as potential mediating variables, while conversion factors and social choices are seen as factors that moderate the impact of resources on the attainment of functionings.

Ethics principles for social and behavior change communication

The field of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) has a history reaching back to the period of decolonization following World War II. Since that period, much has been learned about theories and methods pertinent to this communication subfield. One topic that has received too little attention is the ethical dimension of SBCC. This paper considers the need for an SBCC code of ethics and justification for such a code. Amartya Sen's capabilities approach and Habermas's discourse ethics are reviewed as substantial contributions to such a justification. Habermas's U and D principles are selected as especially useful when the criteria for communicative action are considered, including criteria related to validity claims and general symmetry conditions. The paper argues that discourse ethics is the most suitable general ethical approach for SBCC, offering both a theoretical foundation for SBCC ethics and guidelines for practice in the field.

Strengthening health care in Canada post-COVID-19 pandemic

The purpose of this policy briefing is to examine our health care systems through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify how we can strengthen health care in Canada post-pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided compelling evidence that substantive changes to our health care systems are needed. Specifically, the pandemic has emphasized structural inequities on a broad scale within Canadian society. These include systemic racial and socioeconomic inequities that must be addressed broadly, including in the delivery of health care. We make recommendations about what we can do to emerge stronger from the pandemic. While these recommendations are not novel, how they are framed and contextualized differs because of the problems in our health care system that have been highlighted and exacerbated by the pandemic.The evidence is clear that socioeconomic circumstances, intergenerational trauma, adverse early life experiences, and educational opportunities are critical factors when it comes to health over the life course. Given the problems in the delivery of health care that the pandemic has revealed, we need a different approach. How health care was organized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic did not produce what people wanted and needed in terms of health care and outcomes. How do we emerge from COVID-19 with an effective, equitable, and resilient health care system for all Canadians? To address health inequities and emerge from the pandemic with strengthened health care in Canada, we must consider how Amartya Sen's capabilities framework on social well-being can be operationalized to achieve better health care and health outcomes. Specifically, we address the need to: strengthen primary care and improve access to primary care; utilize a community-embedded approach to care; and implement better integration across the care continuum, including integration between primary care and public health. Coherent governance and leadership that are charged with realizing benefits through collaboration will maximize outcomes and promote sustainability. Only when we provide access to high-quality culturally competent care that is centered around the individual and their needs will we be able to make true headway in addressing these long-standing health inequities.

Accounting for disability and work inclusion in tourism

This study theoretically and methodologically advances the underexplored literature accounting for the social impact generated by the job inclusion of persons with disabilities within the hospitality sector. A theoretical framework based on Amartya Sen's capability approach and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health informs the participatory process we used to define the most salient inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impacts in a Social Return On Investment (SROI) analysis applied to the operations of a social enterprise, Albergo Etico. The resulting theoretical discussion and empirical application of the capability approach integrated with SROI analysis enables the operationalization of the capability approach in tourism studies, providing a cohesive understanding of disability and an effective reporting of the impacts of job inclusion.

A democratic learning process: When young children under 12 years of age in child welfare services express their wishes for participation

AbstractThis study examined the opinions of 116 Finnish children (mainly aged under 12 years), who were child welfare clients in 2021 regarding how their voices and needs should be heard and met by employees of this system. An abductive thematic analysis revealed that the nature of their participation is connected to Amartya Sen's capability approach. Children considered their rights and capabilities, the possibility to make choices and being safeguarded as important. We found that encounters with employees introduced young children to how society views them and how they can impact the course of their own lives.

The digitally mediated lives of women MSME entrepreneurs in India: Navigating the “access‐use” conundrum

AbstractThe dialectics of information and communication technologies (ICTs) entail their potential in fostering digital dividends and fomenting digital exclusion. Based on 165 personal interviews with women entrepreneurs of MSMEs in the Ganjam and Gajapati districts of the state of Odisha in India, this study considers the opportunities and challenges regarding the access and use of ICTs. The primary intent of the study is to explore the participants’ views on the diversity of ICT use, the relevance of these technologies for their businesses, and the challenges they face while using the digital technologies. Deploying Amartya Sen's Capability Approach (CA) as the primary theoretical lens, this study documents the popularity of “new ICTs” among the respondents, the constraints they face in performing digital transactions, their views on digital exclusion, and the impact of local factors (language barriers and institutional support) on their digital appropriation. Based on these findings, the study emphasises the need for increased availability of business‐relevant content on ICT platforms, incorporation of ICT training in ongoing programmes, and explores ways of overcoming the language barriers and promoting effective use of digital payment applications. This study aims at enhancing the ICT‐related capability sets of women entrepreneurs in the underdeveloped sub‐regions of India.

O4-7 An alternative framework for HEPA projects: Developing recommendations for the use of the Capability Approach

BackgroundUsing Amartya Sen's capability approach (CA) to conceptualize physical activity (PA) promotion projects has been suggested as a promising alternative to conventional theories, as it focuses on the real opportunities people have to engage in PA rather than on PA behavior alone. The Capital4Health research consortium used the CA to conceptualize and implement PA projects in four different settings across the life-course. The aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of the CA in these projects and to develop recommendations for the use of the concept in future PA promotion projects.MethodsBased on an overarching analytical framework, we investigated the utilization of the CA in the individual projects using document analysis, workshops, and group interviews with project teams. Results were used to develop a set of draft principles and recommendations for effectively employing the CA in future projects and as a bridging framework for larger consortia. A participatory process combining elements of action research and Delphi surveys is currently conducted with all members of the Capital4Health consortium to arrive at final set of agreed-upon principles.ResultsPreliminary results show that the use of the CA varied substantially between projects and settings, but that a number of common conclusions can be drawn. A future framework for using capabilities for PA promotion may focus on three areas: (a) Project conceptualization should address both the target group and relevant multipliers. It should also consider both individual PA competences and structural factors, (b) Evaluation should cover both capabilities for PA as well as actual changes in PA levels to assess health impact on multiple levels, (c) The CA may be very useful to research consortia for developing shared goals and evaluation frameworks. This, however, requires a shared knowledge base and agreement about central theoretical concepts.ConclusionsThe CA constitutes a potentially useful theoretical basis for both individual PA promotion projects and multi-setting research consortia. However, the application of the concept is complex and may vary significantly between settings. The proposed guiding principles may therefore provide a useful aid to future projects wishing to apply this innovative approach.

O4-8 Measuring capabilities for physical activity-related health outcomes: A Systematic review

BackgroundHealth promotion projects commonly measure health outcomes and behavior to provide proof of effectiveness. An alternative concept that focuses on the real opportunities a person can choose from to influence their health is Amartya Sen's capability approach. Numerous tools have been developed to measure capability change in general, but it remains unclear which ones can be applied specifically to physical activity (PA).We therefore conducted a systematic review to identify appropriate tools to measure capabilities for physical activity and health and provide information on their quality.MethodsThe review included a total of 6,850 articles published between 2000 and June 2019 that were identified via searches on PubMed, EbscoHost, and ProQuest. Screenings of titles/abstracts and full texts were conducted independently by two researchers using Endnote X9 and Microsoft Excel. Identified tools are currently being analyzed regarding their indicators, evaluation methods, quality, and the extent to which they address capabilities for physical activity.ResultsThe screening resulted in a total of 49 articles included in the analysis. Preliminary results show a diverse use of methods for measuring capabilities for healthy lifestyles. Preliminary results show that three categories of instruments can be identified: (a) Five studies employed secondary data analysis of specific datasets to extrapolate capabilities for healthy living; (b) five articles dealt with measuring capabilities using qualitative approaches (interviews, video recordings); (c) 39 articles reported on a total of 10 different questionnaires to measure capabilities. We identified only one instrument (employing both a questionnaire and qualitative measures) that explicitly measured capabilities for PA, albeit only for a specific target group.ConclusionsThe identified articles show that capabilities for healthy lifestyles are mostly measured by questionnaire. Available tools are mostly target group- and setting-specific. Currently, there is a dearth of tools that explicitly cover capabilities for PA, especially across settings or target groups. Therefore, more research is needed to work towards the development of universally applicable tools to measure PA capability.

Objection or Obstacle: Applying Amartya Sen's Capability Approach to the Conscientious Refusal of Emergency Contraception.

The conscientious refusal to dispense emergency contraception (EC) is legally protected in fourteen states. While the ethical dimensions of these objections have been explored within moral and feminist philosophy, conscientious refusal to the over-the-counter sale of EC has not been significantly studied through an egalitarian lens, especially with attention to the existing reproductive healthcare landscape in which these refusals occur. This article argues, through Amartya Sen's capability approach, that conscientious refusal to EC creates a burdensome inequality for people wishing to prevent pregnancy that manifests within a background of historical injustices, elevating its importance in our weighing of capabilities.

Enfoque de capacidades y cubo del curso de vida, aplicado a la migración de mujeres calificadas

A proposal is developed to integrate Amartya Sen's Capabilities Approach and the study of life trajectories, represented in the life course cube of Bernardi et al. (2019), taking as an empirical example the couple migration the skilled women. The life curse cube allows the visualization of the interdependencies between (1) the temporality of women's life course and the historical moment where the migration process occurs, (2) the individual, social, and environmental conversion factors that provide or restrict their ability to achieve those functionings they consider of value to their lives and how they exercise their agency to achieve their well-being, and (3) the micro, meso and macro levels of interaction that together connect life domains over time from the individual environment, the social relationships and considering external societal structures.

Developing a Comprehensive Multidimensional Wellbeing Index Based on What People Value: An Application to a Middle-Income Country.

We introduce a comprehensive policy-relevant measure of multidimensional wellbeing conceptually rooted in Amartya Sen’s capability approach and applied to a middle-income country: the Multidimensional Wellbeing Index for Peru (MWI-P). We design and collect a specialized survey in Peru in late 2018, which included data on wellbeing achievements across 12 dimensions, on the value that respondents place upon each of these dimensions, and on self-perceived freedom. Then, we utilize this information to set the weighting structure and select a wellbeing sufficiency threshold for the MWI-P, which we estimate using the capability-inspired Alkire–Foster method. Our results show that only 45.9% of the sample population live above the wellbeing threshold, which involves achieving sufficiency in at least seven out of the 12 weighted dimensions of the MWI-P. Subgroup analyses reveal that rural populations, women, and older adults are at a disadvantage compared with urban populations, men, and younger adults, respectively. These subgroups’ disparities hold valid if we introduce changes in the weighting structure or in the wellbeing sufficiency threshold. We argue that the MWI-P can inspire other low- and middle-income countries to reorient post-pandemic recovery policies from a focus on economic growth to a human flourishing approach based on what people value.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11482-022-10064-w.

PENYUSUNAN INDEX OF REGIONAL EDUCATION ADVANTAGE (IREA) UNTUK ANALISIS KETIMPANGAN PENDIDIKAN DI INDONESIA DENGAN PENDEKATAN KAPABILITAS PENDIDIKAN

The demographic dividend is a strategic opportunity for Indonesia to accelerate economic development, with the availability of human resources by productive age in significant numbers. However, the low quality of existing education makes the demographic dividend cannot be reaped optimally. One of the reasons for this indication is the high inequality in education, which reflects the quality of human resources. Besides, one of the indicators for analyzing educational inequality is the Index of Regional Education Advantage (IERA), which comprehensively analyzes educational inequality through Amartya Sen's capability approach. The dimensions used comprise enrolment, attainment, and provision. In this regard, the province with the highest IREA score is DKI Jakarta, whereas the province with the lowest IREA score is Papua. The high IREA score means the better the quality of education, the better the results of achieving basic education indicators, and the stronger the human resources. The study results revealed a fairly high educational disparity between the western and eastern regions of Indonesia, which was analyzed from the distribution of the IREA value of each province.
 
 Demographic dividend, inequality of education, IREA, enrolment, attainment, provision

Global Energy Poverty: Nigeria as a Case Study

The deplorable condition of energy supply and distribution, generally called vitality neediness has been distinguished as one noteworthy failure militating against the satisfaction of Nigeria's objective of achieving financial improvement. The objectives of this study are to identify the challenges that limit the development and accentuate the stagnancy and near decline in Nigeria's energy sector. AmartyaSen's Capability approach was the theory that provided the framework for the study. The comfort examining the system, purposive inspecting procedure and the arbitrary determination method were utilized. The purposive examining strategy was utilized to choose five (5) respondents from the best administration staff of the power segment for the inside and out meetings, while the random sampling technique was utilized in selecting discussants for the Focus Group Discussions. Findings revealed that that the pervading challenges that impede the development of the electricity sector in the country are the insufficient financial capacity to purchase huge power generating sets or maintain the existing ones, the commercial unavailability of the electricity sector that renders it unattractive to prospective investors, consumers' unwillingness to pay for electricity units at cost-reflective prices. In conclusion, the findings of research indicate that energy poverty possesses an adverse effect on both individual and economic well-being of the nation. The study recommends that more funding, both from private individuals and government is required to enhance electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the country. It also recommends a revitalization of the country's electricity sector, to make it more commercially viable and attractive to an investor.

What is eating well? Capability approach and empirical exploration with the population in Japan

‘Eating well’ or ‘food-related well-being’ have attracted scientific attention since the 1990s in the public health, psychology, sociology and, to a lesser degree, economics fields. A large number of empirical studies have been conducted on the content, determinants and measurements of eating well. However, what is missing is a theoretical framework that delineates the structure of well-being and highlights both the problem of one's mental ‘adaptation’ to straitened circumstances and the importance of one's agency and democratic practices. In this regard, Amartya Sen's capability approach shows promise. The objective of this study was to apply the capability approach to understand what eating well means to the population in Japan and to articulate its theoretical implications. The perspective of Japanese participants was elicited by conducting a web-based questionnaire survey (n = 973). The seven categories of eating well that were identified in Japan included two objectives (health and pleasure) and five strategies (regularity, required intake, moderation, balance and quality) to achieve them. Through additional analysis of their ‘actual’ eating practices, it was elucidated that their satisfaction was relatively high despite their actual failure to achieve such eating well, which implies the critical importance of plural (both subjective and objective) perspectives for ethically evaluating the level of eating well.

What is intersectional equality? A definition and goal of equality for organizations

AbstractOrganizational research has come a long way in understanding and dealing with inequalities in the workplace. Despite this, there has not been enough progress toward equality. The reason for the stymied progress, we argue, is in large part due to the conceptual gaps in our understanding of equality. This has not been clear enough to prevent previous imbalances in power, interests and domination from re‐manifesting themselves in new ways. Because organizations are complex, there needs to be a clear definition and goal of equality that can account for these mechanisms. In this article, we present a conceptual approach we call intersectional equality. To develop this approach, we build on Kimberlé Crenshaw's intersectionality and Joan Acker's inequality regimes that are useful for understanding the presence and persistency of inequality in organizations, but these do not define solutions for equality. At this point, we turn to equality and justice theory and examine Amartya Sen's capabilities approach for incorporating organizations and organizational responsibilities to pursue equality. In light of the conceptual gaps in intersectionality, the inequality regimes, and the capabilities approach, we present intersectional equality as a conclusive alternative concept and approach. Intersectional equality sharpens the feminist definition and vision of equality for organizations and provides a practical path forward for building coalitions and capabilities across four dimensions of organizational disparities (procedural, discursive, material, and affective).