 Tolerable Inequality According to Amartya SenChapter Chapter 7 in The Dual Challenge of Tolerable Economic Inequality, 2025, pp 73-89 from Springer Abstract: Abstract Amartya Sen’s capability approach prioritizes poverty alleviation—particularly the deprivation of basic freedoms and opportunities—over economic inequality as a standalone concern. Yet by shifting the metric of inequality from income or resources to what individuals are actually able to do and be, his framework fundamentally redefines how disparities are assessed. Sen’s emphasis on capabilities highlights how identical income distributions can mask deep injustices, such as unequal access to healthcare, underscoring that material equality alone does not guarantee justice. However, the theoretical flexibility and richness of the capability approach pose practical challenges. Without a fixed list of core capabilities or standardized measurement tools, it remains difficult for policymakers to implement effectively. For instance, how should healthcare access be weighed against education when resources are limited? Overall, while Sen’s framework significantly deepens our understanding of inequality, it offers limited practical guidance on redistribution and leaves open the question of what constitutes morally tolerable inequality. Date: 2025 There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it. Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:esichp:978-3-031-97066-5_7 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-97066-5_7 Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Economic Studies in Inequality, Social Exclusion, and Well-Being from Springer |
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