Sen’s Development Critique 1

SEN’S DEVELOPMENT CRITIQUE

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Sen’s Development Critique

In Amartya Sen’s views of development, “development as freedom” plays a key role. Sen

makes the case in his landmark book, “Development as Freedom,” that development must strive

to increase human capacities and freedoms in addition to economic progress. Sen describes

development as the increase in human potential by eliminating different economic, social, and

political restrictions that restrict individual freedom. In contrast to the conventional belief that

economic expansion solely provides the foundation for development, Amartya Sen’s idea of

“development as freedom” emphasizes the significance of advancing human capacities and

freedoms (Frediani, 2007). Sen’s multifaceted approach to development proved significant.

However, it also comes with drawbacks, such as the challenge of operationalizing and evaluating

intangible variables like politics and social liberties and the possible overlooking of the

significance of collaborative effort and social frameworks in fostering development.

Economic Growth vs. Development

According to Amartya Sen, economic growth and development do not represent a similar

thing. Although it might be required for development, economic growth is insufficient. Sen

draws attention to the fact that economic expansion can occasionally fail to improve the quality

of life for individuals, particularly the poor and marginalized. Development must thus focus on

strengthening people’s capacities and liberty rather than only pursuing economic expansion. Sen

contends that development should increase earnings, enhance social chances, and support

people’s lives to ensure proper living standards. “Sen’s writings offer significant innovations by

exploring the nature of well-being and the positive aspects of liberty” (Frediani, 2007, p. 140).

Because of this claim, it is essential to understand the constraints on economic growth and

extend the development program to fulfill the many pressing requirements of people and
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different societies.

Negative and Positive Freedoms

The difference between negative and positive freedoms is another essential component of

Sen’s view of “development as freedom.” Positive freedoms refer to people’s capacity to achieve

their full capabilities and make decisions that advance their living conditions. In contrast,

negative freedoms pertain to the lack of restrictions or obstacles that hinder people from

achieving their goals. Sen contends that development ought to strive to increase negative and

positive freedoms since people require both the ability and the freedom to make decisions about

their life (Frediani, 2007). Additionally, since it emphasizes the value of human liberty and the

social and economic frameworks that support freedom, the difference between negative and

positive freedoms has consequences for understanding and assessing development.

The Problem with Sen’s Views on ‘The Markets’

Amartya Sen’s ideas on “the markets” are considered in a critical critique of his theory of

“development as freedom.” Sen notes, "There is plenty of empirical evidence that the market

system can be an engine of fast economic growth and expansion of living standards” (Sen, 2001,

p. 26). Despite such benefits of the market systems, a few drawbacks limit its efficiency. He

contends that markets, primarily when the power dynamics endorse the wealthy and powerful,

can worsen disparities and adverse effects for excluded groups. He states that “We must also

examine, on the other side, the persistence of deprivations among segments of the community

that happen to remain excluded from the benefits of the market-oriented society, and the general

judgments, including criticisms, that people may have of lifestyles and values associated with the

culture of markets” (Sen, 2001, p. 7). Sen also argues that markets might fail to accurately reflect

the detrimental effects of economic activity on society and the surroundings. These elements
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impact people’s liberties and overall wellness.

Regions of the So-Called ‘Developing World’ vs. ‘Developed World’

In the development dialogue, discussion exists about the conventional division between

the “developing” and “developed” worlds. The “development as freedom” concept by Amartya

Sen calls into question this binary viewpoint and encourages a more complex interpretation of

development. While several “developing” areas of the globe remain plagued with inequalities,

impoverishment, and underdevelopment, some “developed” regions face increasing disparities

and social marginalization. For instance, “A significant proportional decline in the population of

women occurred in China after the economic and social reforms introduced there in 1979” (Sen,

2014, p. 6). Sen contends that development should be seen as a complicated, multifaceted

phenomenon involving improving human capabilities and freedoms instead of a one-way

movement of resources and ideas from “developed” to “developing” areas. For instance, the

prevailing universal scenario highlights the significance of such a strategy even more, as the

COVID-19 epidemic brought attention to risk factors and discrepancies in both the “developing”

and “developed” worlds, emphasizing the necessity for a more holistic strategy to development

that concentrates on the advancement of people’s capabilities and freedoms.

Limitations of Multidimensional Development

Sen’s idea of “development as freedom” has shaped many worldwide development

projects but has certain drawbacks. For instance, since it calls for evaluating several intangible

aspects like politics and social privileges, the multidimensional strategy for development may

prove challenging to implement (Loweryet al., 2020). Additionally, some critics contend that the

emphasis on individual capacities and freedoms may undervalue the significance of collaborative

efforts and social frameworks in fostering development. Furthermore, they claim that the
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multidimensional strategy for development is potentially challenging to execute, especially in

countries with inadequate government policies and structures (Iversen, 2003). Increasing

individual liberties and capacities in such situations might be problematic without tackling the

more significant structural challenges that promote inequality and impoverishment. Furthermore,

focusing on people’s freedom and capabilities could be inadequate for addressing the

fundamental causative factors for inequality and impoverishment. Finding an appropriate balance

between encouraging human freedoms and tackling more significant structural challenges is

critical to ensure sustainable and equitable development.

Example

The Human Development Index (HDI) is one instance of Amartya Sen’s idea of

“development as freedom” applied in practical global development endeavors. Health, schooling,

and economic status are the aspects the HDI, created by the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP), uses to assess human progress. The HDI includes well-being factors,

including life expectancy, education, income, and more conventional economic progress metrics

(Nathaniel, 2021). This strategy is consistent with Sen’s definition of development as extending

people’s freedoms and capacities.

Furthermore, the HDI emphasizes the significance of equitable and sustainable practices

in development projects. For example, the UNDP developed the Inequality-Adjusted Human

Development Index (IHDI), which corrects the HDI for social inequalities. The IHDI

acknowledges that development must not be regarded as an achievement if it serves solely the

wealthy few (Dörffel and Schuhmann, 2022). It is critical to guarantee that the positive effects of

development are dispersed equally. The IHDI agrees with Sen’s focus on strengthening

advantageous and detrimental freedoms.

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Sen’s notion of “development as freedom” is also consistent with the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) endorsed by the UN in 2020. The SDGs acknowledge that

advancement needs to go past economic expansion while incorporating a variety of societal,

ecological, and political concerns into consideration (“Sustainable development goals report

2020”). Addressing problems like inequalities, impoverishment, the effects of climate change,

and environmental damage is one of the SDGs’ goals to foster sustainable development. This

strategy is consistent with Sen’s multifaceted strategy for development, which acknowledges the

interconnection of societal, environmental, and economic variables.

Conclusion

Amartya Sen’s concept of “development as freedom” contradicts the conventional idea of

development as only economic expansion and emphasizes the necessity of improving human

capabilities and freedoms. Sen’s multidimensional perspective on development has impacted the

establishment of global efforts, including the Human Development Index and the Sustainable

Development Goals. However, this methodology has constraints and may prove challenging to

implement. Nonetheless, Sen’s notion of “development as freedom” provides an effective

structure for thinking about development beyond economic expansion and acknowledging the

significance of people’s capacities and freedoms for encouraging sustainable development.

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Reference List

Dörffel, C. and Schuhmann, S., 2022. What is inclusive development? Introducing the

multidimensional inclusiveness index. Social Indicators Research, 162(3), pp.1117-1148.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02860-y

Frediani, A.A., 2007. Amartya Sen, the World Bank, and the redress of urban poverty: A

Brazilian case study. Journal of human development, 8(1), pp.133-152.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14649880601101473

Iversen, V., 2003. Intra-household inequality: a challenge for the capability approach? Feminist

economics, 9(2-3), pp.93-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/1354570032000080868

Lowery, B., Dagevos, J., Chuenpagdee, R. and Vodden, K., 2020. Storytelling for sustainable

development in rural communities: An alternative approach. Sustainable

development, 28(6), pp.1813-1826. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2124

Nathaniel, S.P., 2021. Ecological footprint and human well-being nexus: accounting for broad-

based financial development, globalization, and natural resources in the Next-11

countries. Future Business Journal, 7(1), p.24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-021-

00071-y

Sen, A., 2001. Development as freedom. Oxford Paperbacks.

Sen, A., 2014. More than 100 million women are missing: Amartya Sen, The New York Review

of Books. Available at: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1990/12/20/more-than-100-

million-women-are-missing/ (Accessed: May 4, 2023).

Sustainable development goals report 2020 (no date) United Nations. United Nations. Available

at: https://www.un.org/en/desa/sustainable-development-goals-report-2020 (Accessed:

May 4, 2023).