an article by Anthony Kelly (University of Southampton, UK) published in Cambridge Journal of Education Volume 42 Issue 3 (September 2012)
Abstract
There are few more widely applied terms in common parlance than ‘capability’.
It is used (inaccurately) to represent everything from the aspiration to provide opportunity to notions of innate academic ability, with everything in between claiming apostolic succession to Amartya Sen, who (with apologies to Aristotle) first developed the concept.
This paper attempts to warrant an adaptation of Sen’s capability theory to schooling and schooling policy, and to proof his concepts in the new setting using research involving 100 pupils from five English secondary schools and a schedule of questions derived from the capability literature.
The findings suggest that a capability approach can provide an alternative to the dominant Benthamite school effectiveness paradigm, and can offer a sound theoretical framework for understanding better the assumed relationship between schooling and well-being.
Showing posts with label capability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label capability. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
The neglected dimension of well-being: Analyzing the development of “conversion efficiency” in Great Britain
an article by Martin Binder (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany) and Tom Broekel (Leibniz University of Hanover, Germany) published in Journal of Socio-Economics Volume 41 Issue 1 (January 2012)
Abstract
In Amartya Sen’s capability approach, policy makers can focus on different levels to influence the well-being of a society. A dimension that is usually neglected is improving individuals’ “conversion efficiency”, i.e. the efficiency with which individual resources are converted into well-being. To examine effects of policies on (the development of) this measure we suggest an intertemporal index of conversion efficiency estimated via a nonparametric order-m approach.
The approach is exemplified using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) from 1991 to 2006. We find that over this time horizon between 24% and 29% of individuals were efficient in their conversion of resources into well-being. Moreover, age and self-employment increase an individual’s conversion efficiency, while living in London, being disabled and being separated, divorced or widowed all decrease conversion efficiency.
Being married also decreases the conversion efficiency and we find few [sic] evidence of gender disparities in conversion efficiency.
Abstract
In Amartya Sen’s capability approach, policy makers can focus on different levels to influence the well-being of a society. A dimension that is usually neglected is improving individuals’ “conversion efficiency”, i.e. the efficiency with which individual resources are converted into well-being. To examine effects of policies on (the development of) this measure we suggest an intertemporal index of conversion efficiency estimated via a nonparametric order-m approach.
The approach is exemplified using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) from 1991 to 2006. We find that over this time horizon between 24% and 29% of individuals were efficient in their conversion of resources into well-being. Moreover, age and self-employment increase an individual’s conversion efficiency, while living in London, being disabled and being separated, divorced or widowed all decrease conversion efficiency.
Being married also decreases the conversion efficiency and we find few [sic] evidence of gender disparities in conversion efficiency.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Multi-dimensional poverty in Australia and the barriers ill health imposes on the employment of the disadvantaged
an article by Emily Joy Callander, Deborah J. Schofield and Rupendra N. Shrestha (School of Public Health and NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, The University of Sydney) published in Journal of Socio-Economics Volume 40 Issue 6 (December 2011)
Abstract
A little over one million individuals in Australia between the ages of 24 and 64 years are in Freedom poverty – they have low family income, and have either poor health or an insufficient level of education. These individuals are some of the most disadvantaged in society due to their multiple capability restrictions. Current political rhetoric focused on reducing the number of individuals out of the labour force to improve their living standards may offer a means of improving the lives of these most disadvantaged individuals. Indeed, of those in Freedom poverty, 80% are not in employment. But these individuals also have poor health and/or a poor education and these capability limitations may act as barriers to their labour force participation. Indeed, 49% of individuals in freedom poverty who were out of the labour force cited ill health as the reason for this (39% cited their own ill health, and 10% cited another's ill health). Not only will these individual's ill health act as a barrier to their engaging in the labour force, but ill health will also contribute to reduced quality of life. Political promises to improve the lives of citizens should not focus narrowly upon increasing labour force participation rates, but should take a holistic view of the lives of individuals taking note in particular of how health may be restraining their quality of life.
Abstract
A little over one million individuals in Australia between the ages of 24 and 64 years are in Freedom poverty – they have low family income, and have either poor health or an insufficient level of education. These individuals are some of the most disadvantaged in society due to their multiple capability restrictions. Current political rhetoric focused on reducing the number of individuals out of the labour force to improve their living standards may offer a means of improving the lives of these most disadvantaged individuals. Indeed, of those in Freedom poverty, 80% are not in employment. But these individuals also have poor health and/or a poor education and these capability limitations may act as barriers to their labour force participation. Indeed, 49% of individuals in freedom poverty who were out of the labour force cited ill health as the reason for this (39% cited their own ill health, and 10% cited another's ill health). Not only will these individual's ill health act as a barrier to their engaging in the labour force, but ill health will also contribute to reduced quality of life. Political promises to improve the lives of citizens should not focus narrowly upon increasing labour force participation rates, but should take a holistic view of the lives of individuals taking note in particular of how health may be restraining their quality of life.
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