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  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2018

Wellbeing Economics

The Capabilities Approach to Prosperity

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Offers an integrated account of how levels of activity and types of capital investment connect in a Wellbeing Economics framework for policy formulation and implementation
  • Outlines different levels of action for wellbeing, so that central government policies can integrate what is already occurring as a result of individual, household, community, regional and market activities, while recognising that some problems require international collaboration
  • Constructs a positive and rich paradigm for designing policies to raise personal and social wellbeing
  • Is informed by, and provides clear references to, a wide economics literature and practical policy examples
  • Accessible to non-specialist readers

Part of the book series: Wellbeing in Politics and Policy (WPP)

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Softcover Book USD 31.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 31.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. From Economic Growth to Wellbeing Economics

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 1-21Open Access
  3. Persons and Human Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 23-43Open Access
  4. Households, Families and Cultural Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 45-65Open Access
  5. Civil Society and Social Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 67-87Open Access
  6. Market Participation and Economic Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 89-108Open Access
  7. Local Government and Natural Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 109-127Open Access
  8. The Nation State and Knowledge Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 129-147Open Access
  9. The Global Community and Diplomatic Capital

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 149-168Open Access
  10. The Wellbeing Economics Framework

    • Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, Joe Saunders
    Pages 169-189Open Access
  11. Back Matter

    Pages 191-196

About this book

Economists have long sought to maximise economic growth, believing this to be their best contribution to improving human welfare. That approach is not sustainable in the face of ongoing issues such as global climate change, environmental damage, rising inequality and enduring poverty. Alternatives must be found.

This open access book addresses that challenge. It sets out a wellbeing economics framework that directly addresses fundamental issues affecting wellbeing outcomes. Drawing inspiration from the capabilities approach of Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen, the book demonstrates how persons can enhance prosperity through their own actions and through collaboration with others.

The book examines national public policy, but its analysis also focuses on choices made by individuals, households, families, civil society, local government and the global community. It therefore offers important insights for anyone concerned with improving personal wellbeing and community prosperity.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand

    Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders

  • Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Joe Saunders

About the authors

Paul Dalziel is Professor of Economics and Deputy Director of the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University, New Zealand.

Caroline Saunders is Professor of Trade and Environmental Economics and Director of the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University, New Zealand.

Joe Saunders is Assistant Professor in Post-Kantian Philosophy at the University of Durham, UK.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 31.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 31.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access