Understanding Capabilities, Functionings and Travel in High and Low Income Neighbourhoods in Manila

Robin Hickman, Mengqiu Cao, Beatriz Mella Lira, Alexis Fillone and Jose Bienvenido Biona
Additional contact information
Robin Hickman: Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK
Mengqiu Cao: Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK
Beatriz Mella Lira: Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK
Alexis Fillone: Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research, De La Salle University, The Philippines
Jose Bienvenido Biona: Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research, De La Salle University, The Philippines

Social Inclusion, 2017, vol. 5, issue 4, 161-174

Abstract: Transport plays an important role in helping people to access activities and participate in life. The availability of transport networks, the modes available, new infrastructure proposals, and the type of urban development can all impact on and change activity participation, and hence contribute to social equity in the city. This article uses surveys in low and high income neighbourhoods in Manila, the Philippines, to assess the social equity implications of differential access to transport. The analysis demonstrates how the theoretical framework of the Capability Approach (Nussbaum, 2003; Sen, 1985, 1999, 2009) can be used to assess what individuals might be able to access (capabilities) versus their actual travel (functionings). The spatial patterns of travel and access to activities are assessed, demonstrating significant differences by gender, age, income and neighbourhood, in terms of travel mode and cost of travel; health, physical and mental integrity; senses, imagination and thoughts; reasoning and planning; social interaction; natural environment; sustainable modes; and information. This approach to assessing the transport dimensions of social equity offers much potential, based not only on access to resources or consumption of mobility, but also in the opportunities that people have in relation to their activity participation. The case study context is also informative, with Manila providing an example of an Asian city with high levels of private car usage, high levels of congestion, and large spatial and income differentials in travel and associated social equity.

Keywords: Capability Approach; income; Manila; mobility; neighbourhood; social equity; transport; travel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/1083 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:socinc:v5:y:2017:i:4:p:161-174

DOI: 10.17645/si.v5i4.1083

Access Statistics for this article

Social Inclusion is currently edited by Mariana Pires

More articles in Social Inclusion from Cogitatio Press
Bibliographic data for series maintained by António Vieira () and IT Department ().