The German Capability Index—An Operationalization of Sen’s …
149
2.2 The Capabilities—A Vector of Abilities
Capabilities can therefore be described as a vector of an individual’s abilities, which
are, in turn, a function of basic social conditions (democracy, freedom) [14, 58] and
their worldwide reach:
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−→
v
individual
capabilities (functionings, worldwide reach)
.
Similar to a person who has a lot of money and can purchase many goods, a
person with many capabilities can choose between different life concepts [14], as
the following example explains [14, 52]: A wealthy person who is fasting may
have the same functional performance as a poor person with respect to nutrition.
However, whereas the poor person may have to starve, the wealthy person has
the capability to choose whether to eat or fast. Hence, the wealthy person has a
greater worldwide reach than the poor person, who has no choice [53, 64]. In the
same way, a person who is only equipped with the most basic functionings, e.g.
− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− →
v
poor person
capabilities (functionings (food, clothes, basic education, low worldwide reach))
has very little opportunity of becoming, e.g. an architect or a surgeon. Her or his
capabilities are limited because of the personal functionings [53]. The individual
capability budget is small, whereas the capability budget of, e.g., the architect is
significantly higher expressed in a sophisticated capability vector:
− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− →
v
architect
capabilities (functionings (food, clothes, higher education, high worldwide reach))
The capability budget describes the different possible combinations of functionings (abilities) a person can achieve [42]. The budget contains the means which
allow a person to live a certain life [38], or the paths of life which remain closed to
him because of his limited capability budget [39]. The capability budget of a person
therefore describes the possibilities of a person to live the life she or he wishes
[50, 62].
These functionings enable people to achieve an income and enable consumption
decisions to purchase the goods that go along with a certain worldwide reach. The
functionings therefore refer to the possibility of fulfilling individual needs. Moreover,
a distinction is made between people’s basic needs (food, clothes and basic education)
and further abilities such as playing an instrument or speaking a foreign language.
Sen uses his capability approach to specify his justice approach, defining social
justice as “equality of capabilities [46]” and assume basic rights to be essential
for a good life [59]. The opportunities of people are expressed in their capability
budget [50], which defines people’s welfare and “the person’s freedom to lead one
type of life or another [58]”, based on institutional conditions. Amartya Sen and
Martha Nussbaum try to capture people’s well-being in their capability approach
by considering not only people’s income but also non-monetary aspects (values,
capabilities) which influence people’s welfare and their quality of life [50]. Hence,
the composition of the capability budget is a question of institutional justice [61,
63, 64], because as Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire stated: “Entre le fort et le faible,
149
2.2 The Capabilities—A Vector of Abilities
Capabilities can therefore be described as a vector of an individual’s abilities, which
are, in turn, a function of basic social conditions (democracy, freedom) [14, 58] and
their worldwide reach:
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−→
v
individual
capabilities (functionings, worldwide reach)
.
Similar to a person who has a lot of money and can purchase many goods, a
person with many capabilities can choose between different life concepts [14], as
the following example explains [14, 52]: A wealthy person who is fasting may
have the same functional performance as a poor person with respect to nutrition.
However, whereas the poor person may have to starve, the wealthy person has
the capability to choose whether to eat or fast. Hence, the wealthy person has a
greater worldwide reach than the poor person, who has no choice [53, 64]. In the
same way, a person who is only equipped with the most basic functionings, e.g.
− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− →
v
poor person
capabilities (functionings (food, clothes, basic education, low worldwide reach))
has very little opportunity of becoming, e.g. an architect or a surgeon. Her or his
capabilities are limited because of the personal functionings [53]. The individual
capability budget is small, whereas the capability budget of, e.g., the architect is
significantly higher expressed in a sophisticated capability vector:
− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− →
v
architect
capabilities (functionings (food, clothes, higher education, high worldwide reach))
The capability budget describes the different possible combinations of functionings (abilities) a person can achieve [42]. The budget contains the means which
allow a person to live a certain life [38], or the paths of life which remain closed to
him because of his limited capability budget [39]. The capability budget of a person
therefore describes the possibilities of a person to live the life she or he wishes
[50, 62].
These functionings enable people to achieve an income and enable consumption
decisions to purchase the goods that go along with a certain worldwide reach. The
functionings therefore refer to the possibility of fulfilling individual needs. Moreover,
a distinction is made between people’s basic needs (food, clothes and basic education)
and further abilities such as playing an instrument or speaking a foreign language.
Sen uses his capability approach to specify his justice approach, defining social
justice as “equality of capabilities [46]” and assume basic rights to be essential
for a good life [59]. The opportunities of people are expressed in their capability
budget [50], which defines people’s welfare and “the person’s freedom to lead one
type of life or another [58]”, based on institutional conditions. Amartya Sen and
Martha Nussbaum try to capture people’s well-being in their capability approach
by considering not only people’s income but also non-monetary aspects (values,
capabilities) which influence people’s welfare and their quality of life [50]. Hence,
the composition of the capability budget is a question of institutional justice [61,
63, 64], because as Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire stated: “Entre le fort et le faible,