Main content

Creating capabilities

Is there a better way to judge the development of a country than to measure its GDP? Philosopher Martha Nussbaum tells Laurie Taylor of her 'human capabilities' approach.

Development of a country is conventionally measured by GDP, but that can mask a growing inequality in that nation and makes no reference to freedoms, rights or education. The philosopher Martha Nussbaum outlines her 'human capabilities' approach which she has developed with the Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen. She tells Laurie that her index can be applied around the world and across all cultures as an index which measures how populations are flourishing or flailing.
Producer: Charlie Taylor.

Available now

30 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 27 Jul 2011 16:00
  • Mon 1 Aug 2011 00:15

Explore further with The Open University

Explore further with The Open University

BBC Thinking Allowed is produced in partnership with The Open University

Download this programme

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Podcast