Economists can rarely perform controlled experiments to generate data. Existing information in the form of real-life observations simply has to be utilized in the best possible way. Given this, it is advantageous to make use of the increasing availability and accessibility of combinations of...

Measuring capabilities is a major challenge for the operationalization of the capability approach. Structural equation models (SEM) are being increasingly used as one possible methodology for estimating capabilities, but a certain skepticism remains about their appropriateness. In this paper, we...

This paper uses an innovative theoretical framework for investigating gender and social differences in wellbeing among Indian households. On the conceptual side, we adopt a multidimensional definition of well-being that includes three key dimensions - wealth, health, education - with an...

This paper presents a class of robust estimators for linear and non-linear simultaneous equations models, which are a direct generalization of the maximum likelihood estimator. The new estimators are obtained as solutions of a generalized likelihood equation. They are resistant to deviations...

This chapter is an overview of the main methodologies that have been proposed in the literature for operationalising the capability approach. It covers descriptive as well as modelling approaches, the former focusing on catching a full picture of the well-being situation using many indicators...

Recent empirical literature has seen many multidimensional indices emerge as well-being or poverty measures, in particular indices derived from principal components and various latent variable models. Though such indices are being increasingly and widely employed, few studies motivate their use...

Any attempt to operationalize the capability approach necessitates an adequate framework for the measurement of the abstract unobservable multidimensional concept that the term ‘capability' stands for. One such attempt is the latent variable approach, which considers the different dimensions...

This paper investigates whether globalised economies are able to offer expanded and equalised opportunities for work using the capability approach as the theoretical framework. We not only look at the quantity of available work or its lack (employment/unemployment) but also its quality (working...

The paper revisits regression-based inequality decomposition, derives further theoretical results on the factor shares and applies them in an empirical setting. Noting that the approach based on Shorrocks and Fields is not directly applicable to an important welfare-based inequality index,...

This paper presents a methodological extension of Deaton's (1990) model for estimating price elasticities, by pooling Tunisian data from several surveys to improve the inter-cluster variability of unit values which is one of the key elements used in the derivation of these elasticities. Since...