O presente trabalho desenvolve um modelo capaz de descrever preferências dependentes de contexto, buscando superar as limitações impostas pela abordagem da preferência revelada. O espaço informacional no ato da escolha é ampliado através da incorporação de uma segunda dimensão, na forma de um novo tipo de utilidade, dita social ou moral, representativa do contexto no qual a escolha é realizada. As dimensões são assumidas incomensuráveis entre si, uma característica típica de escolhas que envolvem questões morais. A impossibilidade de comparação entre duas alternativas, cada qual superior à outra em uma dimensão distinta, é resolvida através de uma simetria rotacional capaz de preservar a relação sujacente entre ambas utilidades. O modelo é baseado, fundamentalmente, nos trabalhos de Amartya Sen (1974, 1977, 1993, 1997) e Amitai Etzioni (1986), incorporando conceitos de utilidade moral (ETZIONI, 1986), dependência de contexto no ato da escolha (SEN, 1993, 1997), inescapabilidade ou urgência da escolha (SEN, 1997), auto-imposição de limites à escolha (SEN, 1997; ETZIONI, 1986), commitment, entendido como divisão entre escolha e bem-estar (SEN, 1977) e flexibilidade cognitiva dos indivíduos (ARIELY, 2012). / In this work, we develop a model that is able to describe context-dependent preferences, trying to overcome the limitations given by the revealed preference approach. The informational space in the act of choice is broadened by incorporating a second dimension, as a new type of utility, called social or moral, representing the context within the choice is made. The dimensions are deemed incommensurable, a typical characteristic of moral-related choices. The impossibility of comparison between two alternatives, where each alternative is the superior one in a different dimension, is resolved through a rotational symmetry able to preserve the underlying relationship between the two utilities. The model is fundamentally based on the works of Amartya Sen (1974, 1977, 1993, 1997) and Amitai Etzioni (1986), making use of the concepts of moral utility (ETZIONI, 1986), context-dependency in the act of choice (SEN, 1993, 1997), inescapability or urgency of the choice (SEN, 1997), self-imposing limits to choice (SEN, 1997; ETZIONI, 1986), commitment, understood as a wedge between choice and welfare (SEN, 1977) and the cognitive flexibility of the individuals (ARIELY, 2012).

This paper is concerned with the efficiency of aid in Masaka, Uganda which is about 140 km from the capital city Kampala. It uses the results of 300 surveys and several interviews to gather data, and a causal methodology to define results. Much of the methodology is based on theories from William Easterly, Andrew Mwenda, Dambisa Moyo, Jeffrey Sachs, and Amartya Sen. It has been concluded that there are several problems in the Masaka area. One is Uganda's federal government, which is inefficient and unaccountable. There is also lack of easily accessible health care for rural citizens, and a lack of local development due to poor governance. Conversely, the residents of Masaka are quite developed in terms of employment and education, and have rated themselves as quite free and satisfied with life. There is also a quite adequate level of gender equality, especially in terms of education.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-05-04T13:36:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 enfoque_capabilidades.pdf: 1394637 bytes, checksum: a6cd0c2df02a7298caad840963cb1969 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-04T13:36:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 enfoque_capabilidades.pdf: 1394637 bytes, checksum: a6cd0c2df02a7298caad840963cb1969 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-25 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / UNISINOS - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos / Este trabalho versa sobre as relações entre a ética e a economia a partir de uma reflexão sobre o conceito de desenvolvimento. As diversas transformações porque tem passado a sociedade contemporânea nas últimas décadas avivam as discussões sobre o conceito de desenvolvimento e sugerem a necessidade de uma revisão conceitual e teórica. Amartya Sen entende que a chave para uma compreensão adequada do desenvolvimento reside em uma interpretação da liberdade como o fim último e o principal meio do desenvolvimento. O enfoque da capabilidade de Amartya Sen apresenta um conjunto de categorias que visam ampliar nossa compreensão sobre o desenvolvimento desde o exame das oportunidades, realizações, direitos e liberdades individuais considerando a pluralidade dos indivíduos e suas possibilidades existenciais. São objetivos gerais deste trabalho, identificar o sentido da liberdade e do desenvolvimento em Amartya Sen, a relação entre ambos e sua efetivação nas categorias presentes no enfoque da capabilidade; analisar essas categorias: funcionamentos, oportunidades, capabilidades e condição de agente (componentes do enfoque da capabilidade), explicitando suas principais contribuições para a perspectiva do desenvolvimento ético. De modo especial, procura-se compreender os fundamentos da perspectiva do desenvolvimento como liberdade; a partir da análise das principais premissas e pressupostos presentes em suas discussões com a economia moral utilitarista, a economia do bem-estar e a teoria rawlsiana. Embora alguns interpretes de A. Sen compreendam que do enfoque da capabilidade decorre os fundamentos para uma teoria da igualdade ou teoria da justiça, este trabalho segue uma interpretação mais branda, que acompanha outros estudiosos que vêem na obra seniana uma perspectiva normativa para o desenvolvimento ético que ao extrapolar tal âmbito desenvolve conceitos e categorias teóricas com potencial para a elaboração de uma ética do desenvolvimento. Defende-se que o enfoque da capabilidade de Amartya Sen constitui-se em uma perspectiva ético-econômica mais plausível do que as teorias econômicas existentes no que se refere à avaliação dos estados de uma sociedade e seu grau de desenvolvimento, liberdade e bem estar, em termos de enriquecimento da vida humana. Trata-se de enfoque normativo elaborado em relação dialética com a realidade social, capaz de contemplar discussões teórico-conceituais; fornecer ferramentas adequadas ao desenvolvimento de pesquisas e estudos empíricos sobre o desenvolvimento, com fins a orientar a formulação de políticas públicas através da instrumentalização e operalização das categorias presentes no enfoque das capabilidades. / This paper verses upon the relation between ethics and economics after such reflection on the development concept. Several transformations in which society has been through over the last decades highlight the discussions on the development concept and soar the necessity of a conceptual and theoretical review. Amartya Sen understands that the key for a suitable comprehension of development lays on an interpretation of freedom as the only end and main means of Development as Freedom. The capability approach of Amartya Sen shows a number of categories which aim to amplify our comprehension over the development since the exam of opportunities, realizations, rights and individual substantive freedoms considering the plurality of individuals and their existential possibilities. These are the general aims of this paper, identify the freedom and development sense in Amartya Sen, the relation between both and their effectiveness in the extant categories on the capability approach; analyze these categories: functioning, opportunities, capabilities and agency, (components of capability approach), highlighting their main contributions for the development ethics. In a special way, it was sought to understand the perspective fundaments of development as freedom: after an analysis of main assumptions and premises present in their discussions with the utilitarist moral economics, welfare economics and John Rawls' theory. Although some interpreters of A. Sen comprehend that the capability approach runs into fundaments for a new theory of justice, this paper follows a slighter interpretation, which accompanies other experts who see on the senian work a normative perspective for the development ethics which when overcomes such aim, it develops concepts and theoretical categories with potential for the elaboration of an ethics of development. It is defended that the capability approach of Amartya Sen is constituted in an ethic-economic perspective more plausible than the modern economic theories, which already endure referring to the evaluation of states in a society and their degree of development, freedom, well-being, in terms of enrichment of human life. It is treated a normative approach elaborated in a dialect relationship with the social reality, able to contemplate conceptual-theoretical discussions, supply with adequate tools to the research development and empirical studies about the development, aiming to orientate the formation of public politics through the manipulation and operation of present categories on the capability approach.

<p>Introduction: Poverty is today a global problem which is getting more and more attention. Organisations as UNDP, OECD and World Bank have a common target of cutting poverty in half by year 2015. But if this target is going to be feasible it is important to understand poverty. Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen argues that standard of living should be expressed in quality of life not in terms of quantity of goods and other economic factors. Sen has developed theories concerning poverty that is commonly used in today debate. One way to diminish poverty is microfinance. Microfinance is small loans given to poor people as a way for them to start or develop a business of some kind. Microfinance programs often combine the loans with education and social activities. Aim: Investigate if microfinance can contribute to permanent poverty alleviation, develop a model and apply it in rural Vietnam. The following questions will help to achieve our aim: - How do microfinance effect poor women in rural Vietnam? - What happens if one applies Amartya Sen's theories of poverty in rural Vietnam? </p><p>Results: Microfinance is a good tool in the struggle to diminishing poverty. We found many examples where microfinance had improved the women’s life in different areas. But to make the microfinance even more effective it is important it is effective education and right members participating. Under ideal circumstances the process of microfinance work as in the NORAN-model, however in reality it is not so easy. But if you are aware of the problems and try to avoid them, microfinance can help many women. Thus our conclusion is that microfinance certainly can and already do contribute to permanent poverty alleviation.</p>

Introduction: Poverty is today a global problem which is getting more and more attention. Organisations as UNDP, OECD and World Bank have a common target of cutting poverty in half by year 2015. But if this target is going to be feasible it is important to understand poverty. Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen argues that standard of living should be expressed in quality of life not in terms of quantity of goods and other economic factors. Sen has developed theories concerning poverty that is commonly used in today debate. One way to diminish poverty is microfinance. Microfinance is small loans given to poor people as a way for them to start or develop a business of some kind. Microfinance programs often combine the loans with education and social activities. Aim: Investigate if microfinance can contribute to permanent poverty alleviation, develop a model and apply it in rural Vietnam. The following questions will help to achieve our aim: - How do microfinance effect poor women in rural Vietnam? - What happens if one applies Amartya Sen's theories of poverty in rural Vietnam? Results: Microfinance is a good tool in the struggle to diminishing poverty. We found many examples where microfinance had improved the women’s life in different areas. But to make the microfinance even more effective it is important it is effective education and right members participating. Under ideal circumstances the process of microfinance work as in the NORAN-model, however in reality it is not so easy. But if you are aware of the problems and try to avoid them, microfinance can help many women. Thus our conclusion is that microfinance certainly can and already do contribute to permanent poverty alleviation.

This thesis is an examination of the concept of human development and does a comparative study of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. Sen rectifies the emphasis on income by welfare economics, and argues for the ‘equality of capability’; a goal that he says can be achieved by means of the intrinsic and instrumental role of democracy. However, the author notes that Sen’s development paradigm is inadequate as an account for what constitutes the kind of well-being that is fully human and asserts that Sen’s framework should be concretized politically. In view of this, the author argues that Nussbaum’s articulation of a ‘threshold of capabilities’, anchored on her reading Aristotle’s concept of human flourishing and Marx’s insight on human dignity, is a politically realistic human development framework. Nussbaum thinks that the essential human capabilities are entitlements that must be constitutionally guaranteed to ensure a decent and dignified human life for all. As a response to the reality of pluralism, Nussbaum says that the universality of these entitlements can be secured by means of an overlapping consensus. Furthermore, the extreme poverty in many nations which exposes women and children to much vulnerability has provoked the author to inquire about the applicability of Nussbaum’s framework to the global arena. As such, the thesis argues for the radical expansion of the Human Development Index used by the United Nations Development Program in measuring the quality of human life, notably the inclusion of political liberties and gender equality. In addition to this, the study puts forward the argument that global human development is best achieved through democracy, and asserts that global institutions have a moral duty to protect and promote the central human capabilities.

In this thesis, many topics will be discussed and a variety of philosophers will be mentioned. The main goal of this thesis is to determine a health care plan that fits with the theories of Robert Nozick, Arthur Ripstein, Norman Daniels, and Amartya Sen. I conclude that Ezekiel Emanuel’s health care plan, The Guaranteed Healthcare Access Plan, can be used as a compromise between the views of each of these philosophers. In reaching such a conclusion, I take many steps. I begin with the explanation of theories of justice and their focus. I then turn to the important distinction between rights and ethics. Next, I explain that often closely held values come into conflict with one another. Then, I turn to the specific philosophers and their theories. Beginning with Nozick, I explain the justification for a state and how this justification is important for all four of the philosophers. Afterwards, in turn, I lay out what each philosopher claims in regards to a just society and the role of a state, his justification for such claims, and the results of such claims specifically in regards to health care. Subsequently, I examine the connections between philosophers, which help me understand the ways a health care system could be instituted to appeal to all four of them. After questioning if a just society can really exist in a limited world, I decide what type of health care system such a just society should implement. Finally, I rest on Ezekiel Emanuel’s plan, which I believe should be implemented in a just society and which best demonstrates the common ground between the four philosophers I discuss.

Sen and Nussbaum generate very different degrees of obligation for the affluent under their theories of justice, despite each of them deriving their theory of justice from capability as a metric for quality of life. On one hand, Sen’s account of obligation seems very weak, while Nussbaum’s seems overwhelmingly robust. I argue that the sufficient/decisivereasons framework as put forth by philosopher Derek Parfit captures the nuances of their extremely different accounts of obligation. Further, I argue that this framework convincingly demonstrates that the accounts of obligation that Sen and Nussbaum offer in each of their versions of the capability approach are unsatisfying, as each approach occupies such extremes that they are unreasonable. In spite of this, supplementing the capability approach with a different and perhaps more centrist account of obligation can make the capability approach a more consistent and appealing theory of justice. To this end, I appropriate Thomas Pogge’s account of obligation.

I explore the problem of using primary goods as the index for determining the least-advantaged members in a society in Rawls’s theory of justice. I look at the problems presented to Rawls by Amartya Sen and his capabilities approach. I discuss the solutions to Sen’s problems given by Norman Daniels, who argues that primary goods are able to take capabilities into account. Finally, I supplement Daniels, arguing that the parameters Rawls uses to define his theory limit Sen’s objection and that primary goods are the appropriate metric of justice in Rawls’s theory.

<p>This thesis is an examination of the concept of human development and does a comparative study of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. Sen rectifies the emphasis on income by welfare economics, and argues for the ‘equality of capability’; a goal that he says can be achieved by means of the intrinsic and instrumental role of democracy. However, the author notes that Sen’s development paradigm is inadequate as an account for what constitutes the kind of well-being that is fully human and asserts that Sen’s framework should be concretized politically. In view of this, the author argues that Nussbaum’s articulation of a ‘threshold of capabilities’, anchored on her reading Aristotle’s concept of human flourishing and Marx’s insight on human dignity, is a politically realistic human development framework. Nussbaum thinks that the essential human capabilities are entitlements that must be constitutionally guaranteed to ensure a decent and dignified human life for all. As a response to the reality of pluralism, Nussbaum says that the universality of these entitlements can be secured by means of an overlapping consensus. Furthermore, the extreme poverty in many nations which exposes women and children to much vulnerability has provoked the author to inquire about the applicability of Nussbaum’s framework to the global arena. As such, the thesis argues for the radical expansion of the Human Development Index used by the United Nations Development Program in measuring the quality of human life, notably the inclusion of political liberties and gender equality. In addition to this, the study puts forward the argument that global human development is best achieved through democracy, and asserts that global institutions have a moral duty to protect and promote the central human capabilities.</p>