The Quality of Life (Wider Studies in Developmental Economics) - Tapa dura

This book addresses issues of defining and measuring the quality of life. Recent developments in the philosophical definition of well-being are discussed and linked to practical issues such as the delivery of health care, and the assessment of women's quality of life. Leading philosophers and economists have contributed to this volume to consider the problems the subject raises. Economists work with a crude measure per capita income as indicative of human welfare and the notion of maximizing an individual's utility underlies much of conventional demand theory. But is utility measurable? And is utility the right thing to be measuring, when we are interested in assessing the quality of human lives? The volume reflects the growing need for interdisciplinary work as economists become more sensitive to the importance of facing fundamental philosophical questions, especially in the area of development. Philosophers are also becoming aware of the importance of linking their foundational and theoretical enquiries to an understanding of complex practical problems. This work should be of interest to economists and philosophers, as well as welfare and development economists.