<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This article scrutinises the usefulness of Sen’s capability approach and other related theories for understanding poverty and traceability of social-welfare interventions. In addition to the capability approach three macro level approaches are discussed: the welfare regime approach of Esping-Andersen, the social investment approach and a new resource theory. While the strength of the capability approach is the interpretation of worldwide data, and welfare regimes better explain the tangible function of welfare institutions, the social investment approach focuses on the meaning of human capital. Resource theory describes the welfare interventions by analysing their effects on equipping individuals with a broad range of resources. Two further approaches show the mode of operation of micro level interventions. Resource orientation and empowerment are social work techniques which improve the situation of disadvantaged people by emancipation. The article concludes that macro level and micro level considerations must be combined to understand, and then fight poverty</p></abstract>

This article scrutinises the usefulness of Sen’s capability approach and other related theories for understanding poverty and traceability of social-welfare interventions. In addition to the capability approach three macro level approaches are discussed: the welfare regime approach of Esping-Andersen, the social investment approach and a new resource theory. While the strength of the capability approach is the interpretation of worldwide data, and welfare regimes better explain the tangible function of welfare institutions, the social investment approach focuses on the meaning of human capital. Resource theory describes the welfare interventions by analysing their effects on equipping individuals with a broad range of resources. Two further approaches show the mode of operation of micro level interventions. Resource orientation and empowerment are social work techniques which improve the situation of disadvantaged people by emancipation. The article concludes that macro level and micro level considerations must be combined to understand, and then fight poverty

Understanding and Fighting Poverty – Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach and Related Theories

Munich University of Applied Sciences, Faculty for Applied Social Sciences, Am Stadtpark 20, 81243 Munich, Germany

Social Change Review

This article scrutinises the usefulness of Sen’s capability approach and other related theories for understanding poverty and traceability of social-welfare...

Understanding and Fighting Poverty – Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach and Related Theories

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 153 - 176

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0016

Keywords
Capability approach, Early child intervention, Poverty alleviation, Resource based theory, Resource-oriented theory

This content is open access.

Understanding and Fighting Poverty – Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach and Related Theories

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 153 - 176

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0016

KeywordsCapability approach, Early child intervention, Poverty alleviation, Resource based theory, Resource-oriented theory

This content is open access.

Keywords
Capability approach, Early child intervention, Poverty alleviation, Resource based theory, Resource-oriented theory