Valuing Freedoms

Friendship knowledge of foreign groups the ability to purchase milk and shoes the scent of summer roses: of what interest is this type of information to economists? Sabina Alkire shows how Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen''s capability approach can be coherently---and practically---put to work in poverty reduction activities. Sen argues that economic development should expand ''valuable'' freedoms. Alkire probes how we identify what is valuable. Foundational issues are addressed critically---dimensions of development practical reason culture basic needs---drawing on Thomist authors who give central place to authentic participation. A participatory procedure for identifying capability change is then developed. Case studies of three Oxfam activities in Pakistan---goat-rearing female literacy and rose cultivation---illustrate this novel approach. Valuing Freedoms will be of considerable interest to economists philosophers development practitioners and theologians as well as to followers of Sen''s work.