Development as freedom slide presentation
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This document summarizes Amartya Sen's book "Development as Freedom". Sen argues that development should be viewed as expanding people's freedoms and that freedom is both the primary goal and means of development. He defines freedom in terms of having access to things like food, healthcare, education, employment, and political rights. Sen advocates for measuring development by people's capabilities and opportunities rather than just economic metrics like GNP. He believes markets and social institutions can enhance individual freedoms that are important for development.
Development as freedom slide presentation
- 1. Development as Freedom Amartya Sen Professor: LISA LIM Language in Public Policy and Management Presented By: DANIEL JORI & SOPHEA KIM
- 2. About the Author Born November 3 1933, in West Bengal, India to Bangladeshi parents Schooled in Calcutta and Cambridge – economics & philosophy Welfare economist & Professor Best known for his work on causes for famine & famine prevention 1998 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Studies “Mother Theresa of Economics”
- 3. It’s More than Money “Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking; for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else.” – Aristotle “The usefulness of wealth lies in what we want it to do.” more concerned with “Development has to be enhancing the lives we lead and the freedoms we enjoy.” The ends and means of development call for placing the perspective of freedom at the center of the stage.
- 4. What is freedom? Availability of food, health care, sanitation, clean water, gender equality, functional education, employment, social security, political liberty, & basic civil rights “ If freedom is what development advances, then there is a major argument for concentrating on that overarching objective, rather than on some particular means…” Freedom is both the primary ends as well as the principal means of development.
- 5. Institutions and Instrumental Freedoms The five distinct types of freedom, seen in an “instrumental” perspective are: Political freedoms - i.e. civil rights, free speech Economic facilities - i.e. utilization of resources for consumption, production, exchange Social opportunities - i.e. education, health care Transparency guarantees - i.e. openness & freedom to deal with one another, guarantees of disclosure Protective security- i.e. unemployment assistance, famine relief
- 6. Broader Conceptions of Development Amartya Sen argues that development should be seen as a process of expending the real freedom that people enjoy. So, development requires the removal of major impediments to freedom like poverty, tyranny, and neglect of public facilities. Sen also emphasized basic health and education. Development should be measured less by material output measures, such as GNP per capita and more by the capacities and opportunities that people experience.
- 7. Development & Culture Is it better to be “rich & happy” or “impoverished and traditional”? If the traditional way of life has to be sacrificed to escape grinding poverty or miniscule longevity, it is the people directly involved who must have the opportunity to participate in deciding what should be chosen.” Conflict: value that people should be allowed to decide freely which traditions to follow vs. established traditions are always followed
- 8. Economics of Freedom Development From the beginning the study of economics was the study of freedom expansion Economics has shifted more toward utilities, income, & wealth Promotion of an open market The market mechanism opens the door for provision of basic education, the presence of elementary medical facilities, the availability of resources, and much more.
- 9. Individual Freedom as a Social Commitment A variety of social institutions contribute to the process of development by enhancing and sustaining individual freedoms. All cultures desire freedom-this is universal. There is no “formula” for development.
- 10. Critisism Lee Kuan Yew thesis: Economic growth is stimulated by denial of political & civil liberties. Poor people will choose economic needs over political freedom. For instant: China new model of development! Public discussion and debate necessary for development (i.e. need for opposition, openness)
- 12. Discussion Questions 1. Which one is the better outcome for freedom? Growth of GNP Happiness Basic needs Political right
- 13. Discussion Questions 2. Should development policies focus on economic growth or personal freedom?
Editor's Notes
- #4: “Economic growth cannot sensibly be treated as an end in itself. Development has to be more concerned with enhancing the lives we lead and the freedoms we enjoy. Expanding the freedoms that we have reason to value not only makes our lives richer and more unfettered, but also allows us to be fuller social persons, exercising our own volitions, and interacting with – and influencing – the world in which we live.” Quality over quantity Money plays a role in what we can & cannot do “Low income can be a major reason for illiteracy and ill health as well as hunger and undernourishment, and conversely, better education and health help in earning of higher incomes.”
- #5: Quite often economic insecurity can relate to the lack of democratic rights and liberties. No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy, whether rich (contemporary Western Europe & North America) or relatively poor (postindependence India, Botswana, & Zimbabwe) While famines are common throughout much of the dictatorial world, the leaders of the so-called “famine league” are North Korea & Sudan Functionings: various things a person may value doing or being Capabilities: alternative combinations of functionings that are feasible to achieve Realized functionings: what a person is actually able to do Capability set: real opportunities
- #8: Wealth vs. Tradition polarity Decisions regarding cultural change shouldn’t be made by political figures, religious leaders, or sentimental historians – it should be made by the people. Basic education is required Is this practical?
- #9: Economics is the assessment of what it takes for people to have a good living “Development should be assessed in terms of removing the unfreedoms from which the members of society may suffer.” A denial of opportunities of transaction, through arbitrary controls, can be a source of unfreedom in itself