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14 - On Capability and its Measurement

from Part II - Methods, Measurement and Empirical Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2020

By
Prasanta K. Pattanaik  and
Yongsheng Xu
Edited by
Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti ,
Siddiqur Osmani  and
Mozaffar Qizilbash
Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti
Affiliation:
University of Pavia
Siddiqur Osmani
Affiliation:
Ulster University
Mozaffar Qizilbash
Affiliation:
University of York
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Summary

This chapter is concerned with the measurement of an individual’s capability or freedom of choice in the functioning space. We discuss the link between the problem of measuring an individual’s freedom of choice and the problem of how we formulate the notion of such freedom. We present several approaches to the problem of measuring capability and freedom of choice, and discuss the issue of interpersonal comparisons of capability. In the process, we also clarify the concept of capability.

Keywords

functioningcapabilityfreedom of choicemeasurementinterpersonal comparisoninterdependence
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of the Capability Approach , pp. 271 - 292
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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