A new version of this entry is available:

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
ResearchPaper
2012

Sen meets Schumpeter : introducing structural and dynamic elements into the human capability approach

Abstract (English)

This paper argues for the necessity and potential of introducing Schumpeter?s understanding of economic development as structural change into Amartya Sen?s people-oriented development as freedom approach. Sen and other authors on social choice, human development and inequality have effectively promoted ? through the United Nations Development Programme - that the expansion of human agency, well-being and capabilities are the means and ends of development (Sen, 1999). However, this approach has lead to a neglect of structural and technological aspects of economic systems such as social network dynamics, technological progress and the structural changes in the variety and balance of economic activities. Innovation driven socioeconomic change has decisive influences on the capabilities of the actors to be active agents in the development processes. For instance, the variety of economic sectors in a country and the access to information and finance networks determine occupational choices and learning opportunities. Economic diversification and social network dynamics follow evolutionary paths that can contribute to human development, but also intrinsically drive success-breeds-success mechanisms and inequality reproduction. Therefore, an agent oriented evolutionary theory of inequality and qualitative change has to take these structural features of economic development into account.

File is subject to an embargo until

This is a new version of:

Notes

Publication license

Publication series

FZID discussion papers; 48

Published in

Faculty
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
State Institutes
Institute
Institute of Economics
Forschungszentrum Innovation und Dienstleistung

Examination date

Supervisor

Edition / version

Citation

DOI

ISSN

ISBN

Language
English

Publisher

Publisher place

Classification (DDC)
330 Economics

Original object

Free keywords

Standardized keywords (GND)

Schumpeter Joseph Alois Wirtschaftsentwicklung