A measurable qualitative approach to Sen's discourse on development

Abstract

This paper assesses the different concepts of development along the work one of the major thinkers on the field: Amartya Kumar Sen, the Nobel Kerala Indian born economist. More than a philosophical approach, a clear cut and precise method of analysis is used – we recurr to qualitative analysis of discourse using software for building categories in Sen’s thought. Expected results are that there was a clear evolution from a more quantitative definition of development towards a more holistic and integrated framework of development. We expect to find common trends (and quantify them) even in those more qualititative approaches. We will first analyze Poverty and Famines (1981), On Ethics & Economics (1982), then Development as freedom (1999) and finally The Idea of Justice (2010). The final goal is to abridge almost all the works of Sen, but those chosen are the most of the important ones.