Social Exclusion and Poverty: An Abilities-Based Approach

Exclusion and Poverty

Poverty and Inequality

Defining Poverty

Poverty is a complex issue with various dimensions:

• Absolute Poverty: Lack of essential resources to meet basic needs like food, shelter, education, and healthcare.
• Relative Poverty: Having an income level below the societal average, even if basic needs are met.

Measuring Poverty

• Absolute Poverty: Establishing a fixed poverty line applicable to all locations.
• Relative Poverty: Comparing a specific group's income to the rest of the population.

Poverty as a Lack of Ability

Poverty should be viewed as a deprivation of basic abilities, often linked to income. While income is a crucial factor, it's not the sole determinant of one's capabilities.

The Relationship Between Income and Ability

Understanding the correlation between income and ability is essential for designing effective public policies to combat poverty and inequality. Factors influencing this relationship include age, gender, social roles, location, and other external elements.

Examples

• Age, disability, or illness can hinder both income generation and the conversion of income into capabilities.
• Gender discrimination significantly affects resource distribution within families.

Overcoming Determinism

Improvements in education and healthcare not only enhance the quality of life but also empower individuals to generate income and escape poverty.

The Capabilities Approach

Abilities

Abilities represent the fundamental freedoms individuals possess to pursue their desired lives. An 'Ability Set' encompasses the various options available to a person.

Functioning

Functioning goes beyond material possessions and income. It refers to the freedom to achieve well-being, including proper nourishment, good health, avoidance of preventable death, happiness, human dignity, and community participation.

Development as Freedom

Human Agency

Individuals should be seen as active participants in shaping their own destinies, not merely as passive recipients of development programs.

Shifting the Focus

Traditional analysis centers on income as a means. The capabilities approach emphasizes the goals individuals wish to achieve and the freedoms they have to pursue them.

Increased abilities often correlate with increased income.