The Standard of Living [Paperback]

Amartya Sen reconsiders the idea of 'the standard of living'. His argument is conceptual, but it refers to a wide range of examples.This study attempts to clarify a definition of the standard of living . It argues that the concept has been poorly understood and narrowly defined and must be considered as more than a function of opulence.This study attempts to clarify a definition of the standard of living . It argues that the concept has been poorly understood and narrowly defined and must be considered as more than a function of opulence.Amartya Sen argues that the standard of living has been poorly understood and narrowly defined; it is not just a function of opulence, and cannot be seen as utility. It is, he suggests, the capabilities offered in states of affairs. In his comments, Bernard Williams considers the conceptual connections among Sen's capabilities, economic welfare, and the broader notion of well-being , and asks whether the notion raises questions of justice. Ravi Kanbur considers the implications of the uncertainty in the choice that might be thought to be one desirable capability. John Muellbauer offers a specification of choice, and discusses the importance, for assessing capabilities, of the relation between preferences and constraints and between preferences themselves. Keith Hart explores the issue for those societies in which economic life is not fully commoditized and in which, therefore, it does not always make sense to reduce things to a price. Sen concludes with replies to these comments.Introduction Geoffrey Hawthorne; 1. The standard of living: lecture I, concepts and critiques Amartya Sen; 2. The standard of living: lecture II, lives and capabilities Amartya Sen; 3. Professor Sen on the standard of living John Muellbauer; 4. The standard of living: uncertainty, inequality and opportunity Ravi Kanbur; 5. Commoditisation and the standard of living Keith Hart; 6. The standard of living: interests and capabilities Bernard Willl3Œ