Synopses & Reviews
Commodities and Capabilities presents a set of inter-related theses concerning the foundations of welfare economics, and in particular about the assessment of personal well-being and advantage. The argument presented focuses on the capability to function, i.e. what a person can do or can be, questioning in the process the more standard emphasis on opulence or on utility. In fact, a person's motivation behind choice is treated here as a parametric variable which may or may not coincide with the pursuit of self-interest. Given the large number of practical problems arising from the roles and limitations of different concepts of interest and the judgement of advantage and well-being, this scholarly investigation is both of theoretical interest and practical import.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [107]-124) and index.
Table of Contents
ForewordPreface
1. Interest, Well-being, and Advantage
2. Commodities and Their Use
3. Utility, Desire, and Happiness
4. Functioning and Well-being
5. Valuation and Ranking
6. Information and Interpretation
7. Well-being and Advantage
Appendix A: Some International Comparisons
Appendix B: Well-being and Sex Bias in India
References
Name Index
Subject Index