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Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cummins, RA; Land, KC
Published in: Social Indicators Research
November 1, 2018

It has recently been claimed that Sen’s capabilities approach can be used to advise the formation of public policy related to human wellbeing. It has also been proposed that measures of subjective wellbeing are inadequate for this purpose. These ideas are examined in relation to capabilities, using the same reference material as the proposing author. The theory of subjective wellbeing homeostasis is used as the alternative framework by which to understand the potential of subjective wellbeing for policy advice. This examination reveals an almost complete lack of evidence that capability measurement could fulfill the suggested role. While subjective wellbeing has more potential for this purpose, caveats to its employment for policy advice are also evident.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Social Indicators Research

DOI

EISSN

1573-0921

ISSN

0303-8300

Publication Date

November 1, 2018

Volume

140

Issue

1

Start / End Page

157 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 44 Human society
  • 38 Economics
  • 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
  • 1608 Sociology
  • 1503 Business and Management
  • 1402 Applied Economics
 

Citation

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Cummins, R. A., & Land, K. C. (2018). Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016). Social Indicators Research, 140(1), 157–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1763-5
Cummins, R. A., and K. C. Land. “Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016).” Social Indicators Research 140, no. 1 (November 1, 2018): 157–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1763-5.
Cummins RA, Land KC. Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016). Social Indicators Research. 2018 Nov 1;140(1):157–73.
Cummins, R. A., and K. C. Land. “Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016).” Social Indicators Research, vol. 140, no. 1, Nov. 2018, pp. 157–73. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s11205-017-1763-5.
Cummins RA, Land KC. Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016). Social Indicators Research. 2018 Nov 1;140(1):157–173.
Journal cover image

Published In

Social Indicators Research

DOI

EISSN

1573-0921

ISSN

0303-8300

Publication Date

November 1, 2018

Volume

140

Issue

1

Start / End Page

157 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 44 Human society
  • 38 Economics
  • 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
  • 1608 Sociology
  • 1503 Business and Management
  • 1402 Applied Economics