A dynamic operationalization of Sen's capability approach

The limits of the utilitarian approach have led to a search for different notions of welfare. The income approach to well-being, in fact, doesn’t account for the diversity in human beings and for the heterogeneities of contingent circumstances. Amartya Sen, looking for broader notions of well-being, has developed an approach focused on the freedom of individuals to pursue their own project of life: the capability approach. The main purpose of the paper is to explore the possibility of using system dynamics to operationalize Sen’s framework. First of all we address the methodological issues that have to be considered in order to operationalize the capability approach in a dynamic framework. Then we investigate the architecture of the three- functionings model we devised to represent human well-being, as intended in the capability approach. Furthermore, we analyze in depth the structure of a particular functioning, and consider some simulations for the selected functioning and for the whole model over time. Finally, the concluding remarks suggest some indications about the use of system dynamics in order to operationalize the capability approach, and consider the main findings derived from the simulations carried out.welfare measurement

Climate change: the global public good

Climate change is the exemplary global public good, because each country’s emissions of greenhouse gases contribute cumulatively to the increase of the overall concentration, and each country’s abatements entail higher cost than benefit, unless effective concerted collective actions take place. Unfortunately there are weak political and economic instruments for entering a climate agreement and for attaining and maintaining its goals. Moreover there are strong free-riding incentives since it is quite difficult - and indeed very unpopular - for governments to convince people to give up part of their current wealth for the sake of uncertain gains in the future, maybe accruing to population in remote distance. In this paper I deal with the main issues put forward by the global public good nature of climate change. Namely, I firstly shed some light on the economics of global warming in order to point out a benefit-cost framework suitable for quantifying its impacts. Then, I analyse the determinants of the provision of climate stability and the international collective action that should be undertaken to compel sovereign countries to enter into a climate agreement. Hence, after outlining the most important approach to international cooperation, I consider the possibility of a coalition formation according to the game theoretic perspective, the interests determining the participation in international agreements, and the possible sanctions imposable to countries that refuse to comply with an international climate agreement.climate change, public goods, international environmental agreements

A Normative Framework of Justice in Climate Change

The more the various dimensions of climate change are just, the more an international agreement is in principle attainable. That is the reason why justice plays a major role in favouring collective action against global warming. In this article I spell out the dominant notions of justice and the consequent criteria of equity for the main domains of global warming negotiations, in order to identify a normative ethical framework. As far as mitigation is concerned, for the definition of a just initial allocation of endowments the reference point should be a per capita distribution corrected by a factor which takes into account all undeserved inequalities, as suggested by Rawls’ theory of justice. With regard to the subsequent exchange of endowments, I consider the Pareto principle supplemented by the envy-freeness one as the most viable option. Turning to adaptation, my point is that the criterion of responsibility based on historical accountability is inevitable. The related underpinning of justice can be found in principle I of Rawls’ theory of justice. Finally, for the issues raised by the just allocation of compensations for climate related damages I consider Sen’s capability approach the soundest option.adaptation, climate change, equity, justice, international climate agreements, mitigation

Climate change: the global public good

Climate change is the exemplary global public good, because each country’s emissions of greenhouse gases contribute cumulatively to the increase of the overall concentration, and each country’s abatements entail higher cost than benefit, unless effective concerted collective actions take place. Unfortunately there are weak political and economic instruments for entering a climate agreement and for attaining and maintaining its goals. Moreover there are strong free-riding incentives since it is quite difficult - and indeed very unpopular - for Governments to convince people to give up part of their current wealth for the sake of uncertain gains in the future, maybe accruing to population in remote distance. In this paper I deal with the main issues put forward by the global public good nature of climate change. Namely, I firstly shed some light on the economics of global warming in order to point out a benefit-cost framework suitable for quantifying its impacts. Then, I analyse the determinants of the provision of climate stability and the international collective action that should be undertaken to compel sovereign countries to enter into a climate agreement. Hence, after outlining the most important approach to international cooperation, I consider the possibility of a coalition formation according to the game theoretic perspective, the interests determining the participation in international agreements, and the possible sanctions imposable to countries that refuse to comply with an international climate agreement.climate change, public goods, international environmental agreements

Mediterranean agriculture under climate change: adaptive capacity, adaptation, and ethics

In the coming decades, the Mediterranean region is expected to experience various climate impacts with negative consequences on agricultural systems and which will cause uneven reductions in agricultural production. By and large, the impacts of climate change on Mediterranean agriculture will be heavier for southern areas of the region. This unbalanced distribution of negative impacts underscores the significance and role of ethics in such a context of analysis. Consequently, the aim of this article is to justify and develop an ethical approach to agricultural adaptation in the Mediterranean and to derive the consequent implications for adaptation policy in the region. In particular, we define an index of adaptive capacity for the agricultural systems of the Mediterranean region on whose basis it is possible to group its different sub-regions, and we provide an overview of the suitable adaptation actions and policies for the sub-regions identified. We then vindicate and put forward an ethical approach to agricultural adaptation, highlighting the implications for the Mediterranean region and the limitations of such an ethical framework. Finally, we emphasize the broader potential of ethics for agricultural adaptation policy

Environmental valuation in European Union policy-making

This paper offers a critical review of natural resource valuation and points out the role of economic valuation in EU policy-making. First of all, we specify the meaning of the economic value of environmental amenities, illustrate the most reliable and often used economic valuation techniques, and their major weaknesses. We then point out the normative significance of environmental valuation in the evolution of the EU environmental consciousness, and distinguish between its different applications. According to this framework, we critically review the studies carried out in the last few years (1998-2001) by the European Commission DG Environment, which are both methodological and application-oriented. Furthermore, we carry out a restricted survey on research in Europe. Our analysis makes clear that the diffusion of environmental valuation in Europe is unsatisfactory and that decision- makers distrust is still strong.environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, environmental policy

Mapping sustainable development in a capability perspective

The importance of the notion of sustainable development has been advocated, among others, by Amartya Sen. In Sen’s view it is necessary to depart from the general strategy of defining sustainable development only in terms of fulfilment of needs and to use the broader perspective of enhancing human freedoms on a sustainable basis. The ultimate goal of this paper is to outline a possible operative map of sustainable development as intended in the capability approach. Our proposed operative outline concentrates on the role of instrumental freedoms and institutions, and it is based on the traditional themes – economic, environmental and social – of sustainability. For each considered theme we select a set of variables and frame them in the driving forces, response and state variables framework. State variables represent constitutive freedoms, the achieved functionings chosen from the capability set. Their variations are produced by driving forces variables. The latter are, in turn, influenced by response variables as triggered by institutional efficiency and effectiveness, upheld by instrumental freedoms. We eventually map each set of variables in order to point out how instrumental freedoms and institutions influence sustainable human development.capabilities, institutions, instrumental freedoms, sustainable development

From Big Oil to Big Green

How Big Oil can transform itself into Big Green through reparation and decarbonization to rectify the harm it has done through fossil fuels. In From Big Oil to Big Green, Marco Grasso examines the responsibility of the oil and gas industry for the climate crisis and develops a moral framework that lays out its duties of reparation and decarbonization to allay the harm it has done. By framing climate change as a moral issue and outlining the industry's obligation to tackle it, Grasso shows that Big Oil is a central, yet overlooked, agent of climate ethics and policy. Grasso argues that by indiscriminately flooding the global economy with fossil fuels—while convincing the public that halting climate change is a matter of consumer choice, that fossil fuels are synonymous with energy, and that a decarbonized world would take civilization back to the Stone Age—Big Oil is morally responsible for the climate crisis. He explains that it has managed to avoid being held financially accountable for past harm and that its duty of reparation has never been theoretically developed or justified. With this book, he fills those gaps. After making the moral case for climate reparations and their implementation, Grasso develops Big Oil's duty of decarbonization, which entails its transformation into Big Green by phasing out carbon emissions from its processes and, especially, its products

Una misurazione del benessere nelle Regioni italiane

La limitazione del benessere ai soli aspetti reddituali ignora numerose dimensioni e condizioni fondamentali per il realizzarsi delle potenzialità individuali. Obiettivo dell’articolo è quello di fornire una misura multidimensionale di benessere per le Regioni italiane, che superi la tradizionale visione utilitarista. Esso apre con una con una sintesi dei percorsi teorici, a nostro avviso, più interessanti: l’approccio delle libertà di Sen e l’approccio degli indicatori di Dasgupta. Viene quindi proposta la costruzione di una misura operativa adatta alla realtà italiana basata sull’impostazione dasguptiana, in quanto si ritiene che, seppur meno raffinata di quella seniana, presenti una maggior valenza a supporto della scelta pubblica. Tale misura viene definita alla luce degli obiettivi condivisi delle politiche dell’Unione Europea e dettagliata sotto il profilo metodologico. Successivamente viene applicato l’impianto delineato alle Regioni italiane con lo scopo di determinarne un ordinamento di Borda del benessere, e viene evidenziata la correlazione fra l’ordinamento stesso e i gli indicatori di benessere economico e sociale costruiti. Infine, vengono illustrate le principali riflessioni indotte dell’esercizio applicativo.

Una misurazione del benessere nelle regioni italiane

La limitazione del benessere ai soli aspetti reddituali ignora numerose dimensioni e condizioni fondamentali per il realizzarsi delle potenzialità individuali. Obiettivo dell’articolo è quello di fornire una misura multidimensionale di benessere per le Regioni italiane, che superi la tradizionale visione utilitarista. Esso apre con una con una sintesi dei percorsi teorici, a nostro avviso, più interessanti: l’approccio delle libertà di Sen e l’approccio degli indicatori di Dasgupta. Viene quindi proposta la costruzione di una misura operativa adatta alla realtà italiana basata sull’impostazione dasguptiana, in quanto si ritiene che, seppur meno raffinata di quella seniana, presenti una maggior valenza a supporto della scelta pubblica. Tale misura viene definita alla luce degli obiettivi condivisi delle politiche dell’Unione Europea e dettagliata sotto il profilo metodologico. Successivamente viene applicato l’impianto delineato alle Regioni italiane con lo scopo di determinarne un ordinamento di Borda del benessere, e viene evidenziata la correlazione fra l’ordinamento stesso e i gli indicatori di benessere economico e sociale costruiti. Infine, vengono illustrate le principali riflessioni indotte dell’esercizio applicativo.well-being, standard of living, quality of life