How is the capability approach applied to assess well-being impacts? A systematic review

Livia Bartolomei (), Genowefa Blundo Canto () and Pasquale De Muro
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Livia Bartolomei: UMR Innovation - Innovation et Développement dans l'Agriculture et l'Alimentation - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement
Genowefa Blundo Canto: UMR Innovation - Innovation et Développement dans l'Agriculture et l'Alimentation - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement

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Abstract: A shift in how to measure well-being using more appropriate and coherent indicators has been long called for. Nonetheless, monetary indicators, such as income and GDP, or utilitarian frameworks, remain the most common approaches used. The capability approach (CA) has been advocated as an alternative framework to measure well-being. This paper aims to capture the state-of-the-art of how the CA has been applied to assess or characterise the well-being impacts of project-based development interventions in Global South countries. The ultimate goal is to discuss whether the CA provides more varied and complex indicators of well-being and therefore more comprehensive impact assessments. The results highlight that qualitative and participatory approaches are frequently applied methods to assess individual capabilities, most often related to educational, economic, social and empowerment dimensions. Capabilities linked to environmental and recreational activities, as well as collective capabilities, were significantly overlooked. Quantitative approaches to impact evaluation were less frequently used. This paper provides a first systematic review on the use of the CA to assess well-being impacts. Future applications of the CA could focus on better integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches for robust impact assessments and targeting understudied capabilities.

Keywords: approche participative; évaluation de l'impact; bien-être social; bien-être; indicateur social; indicateur de développement; pays en développement; développement socioéconomique; Impact evaluation; Poverty; Capabilities; Outcomes; Human development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap and nep-inv
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Published in Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 2024, 25 (3), pp.367-399. ⟨10.1080/19452829.2024.2369502⟩

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Journal Article: How is the Capability Approach Applied to Assess Well-being Impacts? A Systematic Review (2024)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05182245

DOI: 10.1080/19452829.2024.2369502

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