From Functionings to Needs: Towards a Theoretical Methodology for Creating an Index Aimed at Evaluating Socio-Economic Development as Sustainable Fulfillment of Needs from an Intercultural Perspective

11 Pages Posted: 19 May 2012

See all articles by Edgardo Bucciarelli

Edgardo Bucciarelli

'Gabriele d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara

Michele Alessi

“Gabriele d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara - School of Advanced Studies

Date Written: May 16, 2011

Abstract

Development is not a fixed concept but a field of study which is investigated by different scientific disciplines through theoretical and empirical approaches. The present statistical measurements represent different stages of the evolution of the concept of development whose definition is currently in progress. Report by the Commission’s Stiglitz, Sen, Fitoussi describes the state of art about the reflection on development in order to pose the central challenge to produce more relevant indicators of socio-economic progress. In order to face this challenge, our work does represent an attempt to implement Stiglitz, Sen, Fitoussi’s recommendations. Indeed, this study provides a operational definition of development centered on the fulfillment of human needs which represents an advance on the reflection on socio-economic development. What makes this advance possible is to show how the concept of functioning as defined by Sen (1999) is related to that of need. All this let us achieve the aim of our paper, that is the introduction of a theoretical methodology for measuring the sustainability of the fulfillment of human needs from an intercultural perspective.

Keywords: indicators for sustainable development, functionings, fulfillment of needs, Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission

JEL Classification: A13, B41, O15, O19

Suggested Citation

Bucciarelli, Edgardo and Alessi, Michele, From Functionings to Needs: Towards a Theoretical Methodology for Creating an Index Aimed at Evaluating Socio-Economic Development as Sustainable Fulfillment of Needs from an Intercultural Perspective (May 16, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2062445 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2062445

Edgardo Bucciarelli (Contact Author)

'Gabriele d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara ( email )

Viale Pindaro 42
Chieti Scalo, Pescara 66013
Italy
0039 085 453 7980 (Phone)

Michele Alessi

“Gabriele d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara - School of Advanced Studies ( email )

Chieti, 66100
Italy

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