P O VE R T Y A S

CA P AB I LI T Y
EP RI V A T IO N
D YA SE N
ART
BY AM A
 INTRODUCTION
Having too little income is a significant
factor that leads to a poor life. It's
important because having money
allows you to do things. But it questions
why there is so much debate about
looking at poverty from a perspective
that considers people's capabilities
(what they can or cannot do) instead of
just looking at how much money they
have.

Poverty should be understood not only

in terms of having a low income but
also in terms of what people are
capable of doing and achieving in their
lives.
Poverty can be better understood by looking at what people lack in terms of their
capabilities. For example, not being able to read is more important than just
having a low income because it directly affects your life.

There are many things, apart from having a low income, that can limit what people
can do in life. Income isn't the only thing that influences a person's capabilities.

The relationship between income and what a person can do is not the same for
everyone. It depends on factors like a person's age, gender, where they live, and
their health. This means that the impact of low income on what a person can do
can vary.

several things can affect how much income a person needs to achieve certain
things in life. For example, age, gender, location, epidemiological atmosphere etc.
WHAT IS
INEQUALITY?
The author defines
inequality as the uneven
distribution of resources,
opportunities, or
outcomes among
individuals or groups.

He majorly highlights that

inequality exists in
various forms, including
income, wealth,
education, healthcare,
and more.
 INCOME CAPABILITY
POVERTY POVERTY
This defines poverty as low This defines poverty as
income. capability inadequacy.

the lack of adequate financial It refers to deprivation of

resources such that individuals, capabilities, as a lack of
households, and entire multiple freedoms people value
communities don't have the and have reason to value.
means to subsist or acquire the
basic necessities for a The capability approach focuses
flourishing life. on what people are able to do
and be, as opposed to what they
This means being so poor as to have, or how they feel.
struggle to obtain food, clothing,
shelter, and medicines.
The interconnectedness between income and capabilities highlight how enhanced
capabilities can lead to higher income.

Income is a crucial means to enhance one's capabilities. Improved capabilities can

lead to higher productivity and increased income. The relationship between
income and capabilities is bidirectional.

Better access to basic education and healthcare not only enhances the quality of
life directly but also increases an individual's ability to earn income. Inclusive
education and healthcare can help people overcome income poverty.

While connections between income and capability poverty are essential, it's crucial
not to focus solely on reducing income poverty. Poverty should be understood in
terms of the lives people can lead and the freedoms they have. Enhancing human
capabilities can reduce poverty and deprivation in multiple ways.
The Economic reforms can open up opportunities, but their success depends
on social preparation. Many Asian economies have succeeded by providing
supportive social backgrounds, including education, healthcare, land
reforms, and more.

India's diverse regions have varying levels of human development. Some

have anti-market policies, while others suffer from low social development.
Complementary economic strategies are needed to address these
disparities.

Kerala's Success: Despite moderate economic growth, Kerala has reduced

income poverty faster than other states in India. It achieved this through
expanding basic education, healthcare, and equitable land distribution.
INEQUALITY
OF WHAT
 Dilemmas of Challenges of Conflicts in
Inequality Evaluation Justifying Inequality Addressing Inequality
The treatment of inequality Patent inequalities in society Attempts to eradicate
presents numerous dilemmas can be difficult to justify in inequality can sometimes
in both economic and social terms of reasonableness to lead to losses for individuals
assessments. members of society. or even entire populations.
Substantial inequalities can Severe and significant The nature and severity of
be challenging to justify in inequalities may be viewed conflicts related to
terms of fairness and ethical negatively and even as inequality depend on
models. barbaric. specific circumstances.
Adam Smith and John Rawls Inequality can erode social Historical event
Models of justice, such as 3
are mentioned as thinkers cohesion and hinder the "impartial spectator" and
who have explored the efficiency. the "original position," must
concept of fairness in social consider these diverse
judgment. factors.
Aggregative and Choice of "Space" in Income vs. Capability
Distributive Inequality Assessment Perspective
Considerations
The choice of the variable or The contrast between income
"space" in which inequality is and capability perspectives
Economists have extensively
assessed is crucial. impacts how inequality and
studied the conflict between
Inequality in income can efficiency are examined.
aggregative (total welfare)
differ significantly from Individuals may be deprived in
and distributive (equitable
inequality in other relevant terms of important freedoms
distribution) considerations. or well-being despite having a
variables like well-being,
Various compromise high income.
freedom, and quality of life.
Historical event 3
formulas, such as Atkinson's The example of unemployment
Different measures of
"equally distributed is highlighted, where
aggregate achievements
equivalent income," have capability perspectives may
result from assessing
been proposed to balance reveal greater deprivation
inequality in various
these concerns. than income measures.
"spaces."
 KEY TAKEAWAYS
The enhancement of human capabilities tends to lead to increased productivity
and income, but it should not replace the fundamental understanding of poverty's
nature and characteristics.

The discussion underscores the complexities of evaluating and addressing

inequality, considering factors like fairness, ethics, conflicts, and the choice of
assessment variables or "spaces."

It emphasizes the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to inequality

assessment that goes beyond income considerations.

It also points out that inequality isn't just about money and that different
perspectives can show different aspects of the problem.
 PL OY M EN T :
C TS OF U NE M US
EFF E o Eur ope and
ith co nte xt t
w e i n
w o r k , a d e c r e a s
o f m o t iv a t i o n t o
i c a l s t r e s s , l o s s v e n r a c i a l
a d t o p s y c h o l o g i s o l a t i o n , a n d e
l o y m e n t c an l e l y i s s u e s , s o c i a l
Un e m p p r o b l e m s , f a m i
f i d e n c e , h e a l t h
c o n
skills and self-
e n d e r t e n s i o n s .
and g a n c o u n t r i e s , w h i l e
W e s t e r n E u r o p e
a t i c a l l y i n m a n y e c a u s e
h a v e r i s e n d r a m a c r u c ia l i s s u e b
n t r a t e s . T h i s i s
Unemployme x p e r i e n c e d t h e s a m e t r e n d
t a t e s h a s n o t e b e i n g .
the U n i t e d S t p e o p l e 's w e l l -
n s e v e r e l y a f f e c
e n t c a
high unemploym i m p o v e r i s h e d
o r t h e p o o r a n d
e l e s s s u p p o rt f
h e r e s e e m s t o b p l o y m e n t .
U n i t e d S t a t e s , t l e v e l s o f u n e m
In t h e a v e r s i o n t o h i g h
t h e r e i s a s t r o n g
individuals, b u t n c e ,
w i t h le s s r e s i s t a
u n e m p l o y m e n t
h i g h e r l e v e l s o f l i t i e s .
e m s t o a c c e p t d u a l r e s p o n s i b i
E u r o p e s e a n d i n d i v i
In contrast, d i f f e r i n g v i e w s o n s o c i al
h t b e r e l a t e d t o
and this m i g
 E O F I N C O M E
IN TH E SPA C
n A m e r i c a n
l y p o o r e r t ha
s a r e d e c i d ed e r e l a t ive
r i c a n le o f t h
African Ame f t e n s e e na s a n e x a m p
b u t not
h i s is v e r y o t h en a t i o n ,
w h i t e s . T i c a n s w i t h i n
f r i c a n A m e r o r ld.
o n o f A o f t h e w
deprivati e r p eop l e i n t h e r e st
it h p o o r
compared w w o r l d
o n of t h i r d -
h e p o p u l a t i
r i s o n w i t h t t m a ny
c o m p a e a g r e a
Indeed, in m e r i ca n s m a y w e ll b
t e o f
s , A fr i c a n A e r ta k i n g n o
c o u n t r i e m e, e v e n a f t
e r m s o f i n c o o f t h e
i n t a t i o n
times richer e n t h i s w a y , t h e d e p riv
e
e r e n c e s . S e i c a n c e i n t h
price diff a l e t o i n s i g nif
s s e e m s t o p
e r i c a n b lac k
A m t i v e .
n a lp e r s p e c
in t e r n a t i o
 E X P E C T A N C Y
LIF E
e a l o w e r l ife
i n t h e U . S . hav h i n a
e r i ca n m e n p l a ce s l i k e C
Afr i c a n A m i n ve r y p o o r
a r e d t o m e n r A f r i c an
t a n c y co m p a l s o t ru e f o
e x p e c r a l a .T h i s i s
n s t a t e o f K e i n t h e U . S .
a n
and the Indi m p a r e d to w h i t e w o m e
n w o me n c o
Am e r i c a SME

p s ( s a y , t h a t
g h e r a g e g r ou ce
w e t a k e h i e i s e v i d e n
d e e d , e v e n if r y e a r s ) , t h er
In a n d s i x t y - fou à - v i s
r t y - f i v e e n v i s -
between thi e r m o r t alit y f o r b l a c k m
.
s l y g r e a t i t e w o m e n
of enormou w o m en v i s - à - v i s w h
n , and b l a c k
w h i t e m e
s t m e n t f o r
e d o u t b y a dju
s a r e n o t w ip
e d i f f e r e n t ial
Thes
i f f e r e n c e s .
income d
 In fact, one of the more careful medical studies related to the I 98o s
shows that the black-white mortality differential remains remarkably
large for women even after adjustment for income differentials. While
U.S. black men have I.8 times the mortality rate of white men, black
women have nearly three times the mortality of white women in this
survey. And adjusted for differences in family income, while the
mortality rate is 1.2 times higher for black men, it is as much as 2. 2
times higher for black women. It, thus, appears that even after full note
is taken of income levels, black women die young in very much larger
proportions than white women in the contemporary United States.

The figure presents the ratios of the mortality rates of blacks and whites for the country as a
whole (based on a sample survey).25
 Medical
coverage is
EUROPE High
unemployment
Intense -
Ability to
seen as a basic rates
right are mocked upon survive

Severe Limits
on government
support for the
ill and the poor

Social Taken for

granted Health
commitments
care to
toward public
educational
facilities arrangements

Dismal - Double-digit Little

commitment to

AMERICA
unemployment
Ability to be rates providing basic
employed are tolerated health care
 d e p r i v a t i o n i n
Pov e r t y a n d
a h a r a n A f r i c a
Sub-S io n s m a r k e d by
e r e g
n Af r i c a a r
S u b - S a h a r a
n g e s . D e s p ite
India and d d e pr i v a t i o n c h a lle
b o t h
t p ov e r t y a n i c c on t e x t s ,
p e r s i s t e n c io- e c o n o m
a p h y a n d s o c e s s t o
c e s in g e o g r a d e q ua t e a c
d i f f e r e n e s suc h a s i n
o m m o n i s s u i t i o n . T h e se
c t r
areas share n , c l e an w a t e r , a n d nu
a r i t i e s,
r e , e du c a t i o i n c o m e d i s p
he a l t h c a f a c tor s l i k e
c e r b a t e d b y e n e e d f o r
n g e s a r ee x a l e g a c i e s .T h
ch a l l e d h i s t o ri c a l ,
u a l i t i e s , a n e s e c o m p l e x
gender ineq r o a c h es t o a d d r e s s th
r i v e t o
h e n s iv e a p p h r e gio n s s t
c o m p r e d e nt , a s b o t
b l e m s i s e v i t h e ir
t e d p r o ni t i e s f o r
interconnec l l - b e i n g a n d o p p o r t u
w e
improve the o p u l a t i o n s .
p
 I. Concentration of Extreme
Poverty
Extreme poverty is heavily concentrated in two particular regions of the world:
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Both the areas having the lowest levels of
per capita income among all the regions

Measures such as per-capita income do not explain the nature and

content of their respective deprivations, not of their comparative poverty

Approximately 35% of the world's extreme poor lived in South Asia, while
about 42% were in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.
 A brief analysis of life expectancy
- Around 1991, there were fifty-two countries where the expectation of life
at birth was below sixty years, and those countries had a combined
population of 1.69 billion.
- Exceptions being Sri Lanka in South Asia and South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Lesotho, and Botswana in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Sen argues that life expectancy is a fundamental capability, and
improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and living conditions are essential
for enhancing the freedom to lead a healthy life.
In terms of average living conditions, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are regions
where people tend to lead shorter and more precarious lives in today's world. Some parts
of India, which are as populous as, or even larger than, many countries globally,
experience living conditions as dire as some of the world's worst-performing nations.
While India, on average, fares better than the worst performers in terms of life expectancy
and other indicators, significant disparities exist within the country, where life expectancy
and basic living conditions closely resemble those in the most deprived countries. This
highlights the critical need to address internal inequalities and disparities within
countries.
India and sub-Saharan Africas' Infant mortality rate and
Adult literacy rate - An Observation
It’s noteworthy that there is no country in sub-Saharan Africa or worldwide with
infant mortality rates as high as those in Ganjam district, Orissa, and adult
female literacy rates as low as in Barmer district, Rajasthan.

Both of these districts have larger populations than Botswana or Namibia, and
their combined population is even greater than that of Sierra Leone, Nicaragua,
or Ireland.

Surprisingly, even entire states like Uttar Pradesh, which has a population
comparable to Brazil or Russia, do not significantly outperform the worst-
performing Sub-Saharan countries in terms of these vital quality of life indicators

Sen's work underscores the significance of education and healthcare as essential

capabilities that empower individuals to participate in economic, social, and
political activities.
Contrasting Life Expectancy: India and sub-Saharan Africa display
significant disparities in life expectancy at birth.

Undernourishment Discrepancy: There is substantial evidence pointing to a more

pronounced undernourishment issue in India compared to sub-Saharan Africa.

Food Self-Sufficiency: India's self-sufficiency in food is based on satisfying market

demand, typically met by domestic production, although it often underestimates actual
food needs due to purchasing power dynamics.

Undernourished Children: The proportion of undernourished children in Africa ranges

from 20 to 40 percent, whereas in India, it reaches a staggering 40 to 60 percent.

Gender Bias: India faces a significant problem with gender bias in mortality, which
is not as prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Life Expectancy Discrepancy: India vs. Sub-Saharan Africa

- India's life expectancy is around 60 years, whereas Sub-Saharan

Africa's is only 52 years. This is a shocking statistic as we outlined the
factors creating a disadvantageous position for India.

-The survival advantage in favor of India can be brought out not only by
comparisons of life expectancy, but also by contrasts of other mortality
statistics.

-There are important policy issues related to the nature and complexity of the
respective patterns of deprivation in the two most acute regions of poverty in t
world
 v an tage and
s S u rv iv al A d
India' a us es
Its R oo t C
f s u r v i v a l r a t e s ,
f r i c a i n t e r m s o
r s u b - S a h a r a n A e t o
a d v a n t a g e o v e m o r e v u l n e r a b l
a c om p a r a t i v e a n p o p u l a t i o n s
In d i a e n j o y s r e n d e r e d A f r i c
c t o r s t h a t h a v e
v a r i o u s f a y.
attributed to prem a t u r e m o r t a l i t

n d l a r g e - s c a l e ,
u e s o f f a m i n e a
a v o i d e d t h e i s s d i c a l l y
n d i a h a s l a r g e l y a v e b e e n p e r i o
r f a r e : I n s t h a t h
Famine and Wa n t r a s t t o m a n y A f r i c a n n a t i o
f a r e , i n s t a r k c o s .
p e r s i s t e n t w a r s u c h c o n f l i c t
ravaged by
i c e s h a v e f a c e d
i a 's h e a l t h s e r v
a d e q u a c i e s , I n d s .
D e s p i t e t h e i r i n f r ic a n c o u n t r i e
s R e s i l i e n c e : o m p a r e d t o A
Health Service o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y u n r e s t c
s r u p t i o n s f r o m p
fewer d i o n o m i c
e x p e r i e n ce d e c
c o u n t r i e s h a v e
a h a r a n A f r i c a n i l i t y .
l i t y : M a n y s u b - S p o l i t i c a l i n s t a b
i c S t a b i nr e s t , a n d
Econom o c i a t e d w i t h w a r s , u
o f t e n a s s
declines,
 Comparing Development Experiences and Common
Challenges
A comprehensive assessment of the achievements and setbacks in these two regions
necessitates an examination of these factors and other aspects of their respective
development journeys.

Shared Challenge, Endemic Illiteracy: Both India and sub-Saharan Africa face a
common challenge in the persistence of endemic illiteracy, which sets them apart from
most of the rest of the world.

Core Deprivations: The primary focus on three core deprivations—premature mortality,

undernourishment, and illiteracy—reveals substantial shortcomings and raises critical
policy concerns that demand immediate attention.
 Comparing Development Experiences
and Common Challenges

A comprehensive assessment of the achievements and setbacks in these two

regions necessitates an examination of these factors and other aspects of
their respective development journeys.

Shared Challenge: Endemic Illiteracy: Both India and sub-Saharan Africa

face a common challenge in the persistence of endemic illiteracy, which
sets them apart from most of the rest of the world.

Core Deprivations: The primary focus on three core deprivations—

premature mortality, undernourishment, and illiteracy—reveals substantial
shortcomings and raises critical policy concerns that demand immediate
attention.
 I. Concentration of Extreme
Poverty
Extreme poverty is heavily concentrated in two particular regions of the world:
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Both the areas having the lowest levels of
per capita income among all the regions

Measures such as per-capita income do not explain the nature and

content of their respective deprivations, not of their comparative poverty

Approximately 35% of the world's extreme poor lived in South Asia, while
about 42% were in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.
 Gender Inequality
and Missing Women
the terrible phenomenon of excess mortality
and artificially lower survival rates of women
in many parts of the world is A crude and
sharply visible aspect of gender inequality
The Scenario at hand
North America
and Europe
have women tending to
outnumber men, with the sex
ratio exceeding 1.05 in
countries like France, UK and
USA.
North Africa and
Asia
A different situation in these
countries - 0.95(Egypt),
0.94(Bangladesh, china), 0.93
(India) and 0.90 (Pakistan)
 If the North African or Asian countries had the same female

the case male ratios as Europe or United States, there would have
been million more women in these countries.

In China alone the number of missing women would be

more than 50 million, and on that basis, for these countries

of the taken together, many more than 100 million women may be
seen as missing.

Is this method appropriate ?

missing
The higher ratio in these countries is partly due to greater
incidence of smoking men, impact of wartime and
proneness of men to violent deaths.

Furthermore, lower mortality rates of females than males

women rises gradually with age, doesn’t come into the picture in
countries with inherent low life expectancies.
 Other, More Appropriate Ways -

the case
Taking the female - male ratio of sub- Saharan Africa where
there is little relative disadvantage to females in terms of
mortality rates ( i.e the same as the States or UK) while at the
same time has no higher life expectancy than the focus
countries.

of the Taking the sub Saharan ratio of 1.022 as the benchmark yields
an estimate of 44 million in China, 37 million in India, and a total
still in excess of 100 million.

missing
Another way of dealing with this problem is to calculate the
ratio had there been no female disadvantage in survival given
the actual life expectancy and the actual fertility rates in these
respective countries.

women
This procedure leads to 29 million missing women in China
23mil in India and a total around 60 million ( Ansley Coale ) or
90 million (Stephan Klasen)
 Why is it so?

Considering India, The The magnitude is such similar evidence of The under reporting
mortality rate for that it cannot be relative neglect of the of female births and a
females consistently explained by female health and nutrition of higher female infant
exceeds that for infanticide even if female children can mortality- whether or
males until the late present.The main be found in the other not induced, along
30s. This could be culprit would seem to countries as well. In with Sex selective
partly because of the be the comparative China there is even abortion Takes the
result of maternal neglect of female some evidence that brunt of the anti-
mortality but no such health and nutrition the extent of neglect female sentiment.
explanation is especially but not may have increased in
possible for the low exclusively during recent years possibly
mortality rates in childhood due to one child policy
infancy and
childhood.
 Conclusion
1. Economists often face conflict between efficiency and equity. Adam Smith, the father of
modern economics was deeply concerned with the gulf between rich and poor.
2. One such narrow domain of inequality is a very narrow domain,i.e income inequality. This
narrowness has the effect of contributing to the neglect of other ways of seeing inequality and
equity, i.e. still quite far-fetching bearing on the making of economic policy.
3. Over-emphasis on income poverty and income inequality while neglecting deprivations
related to other variables like unemployment, ill health, lack of education and social exclusion
has distorted policy debates.
4. The synonymity between income inequality and economic inequality can also be found in
philosophical literature like how Harry Frankfurt in his interesting paper "Equality as a moral
ideal" defines 'economic egalitarianism' as " the doctrine that there should be no inequalities
in the distribution of money".
 Conclusion
5. In cases like giving more income to a person with more needs, can be seen as militating
against the principle of equalizing incomes, but it does not cross the broader precepts of
economic equality, the distinction between income inequality and economic inequality is
important.
6. Non-income influences like mortality differences can serve as an indicator of very deep
inequities segregating races, classes, and genders.
7. Gender inequality cannot be analysed primarily in terms of income differences and more
information is needed since income earned by family members are shared by others in the
family.
8. Different types of contingencies cause systematic variations in the 'conversion' of incomes
into distinct 'functionings' that can be achieved which affect the lifestyles one can enjoy.
9. There can be systematic variations in the relationship between incomes earned and
substantive freedoms and serious attention should be given to personal heterogeneities,
environmental diversities, variations in social climate, differences in relational perspectives
and distributions within the family for the drafting of public policy.
THANK YOU