Development as Freedom

Development as Freedom

Category: (Book)

45 new, starting at $8.23

44 used, starting at $4.99

Buy Now

Editorial Reviews

By the winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Economics, an essential and paradigm-altering framework for understanding economic development--for both rich and poor--in the twenty-first century.

Freedom, Sen argues, is both the end and most efficient means of sustaining economic life and the key to securing the general welfare of the world's entire population. Releasing the idea of individual freedom from association with any particular historical, intellectual, political, or religious tradition, Sen clearly demonstrates its current applicability and possibilities. In the new global economy, where, despite unprecedented increases in overall opulence, the contemporary world denies elementary freedoms to vast numbers--perhaps even the majority of people--he concludes, it is still possible to practically and optimistically restain a sense of social accountability. Development as Freedom is essential reading.

Customer Reviews

Awesome book

Reviewed by SenFan, 2009-09-26

This book sets forth Sen's perspective that a person's ability to be and do that which he or she has reason to value is far more important that money or wealth. I assign this book in all my classes. It is essential reading for anyone who cares about ending inequality and attaining social justice.

Freedom, Yes.

Reviewed by Herbert Gintis, 2009-08-14

Sen's deepest enemy in this book is the so-called "Lee thesis," attributed to Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, to the effect that in the Third World, those political systems that suppress democracy and civil liberties are likely to grow faster. Democracy and political rights, according to the Lee thesis, are luxuries that must await affluence. By contrast, Sen asserts that freedom is the very goal of economic development, and economic development will not occur without a parallel development of economic freedom.

Sen's argument was formulated in the mid-1990's, when there was some serious question as to whether authoritarian development, as in Singapore and China, was indeed superior to democratic development, as in India. Some ten or fifteen years later, the attractiveness of the Lee thesis has waned. Without democracy and political rights, governments inevitably become corrupt and inefficient, the result being neither development of freedom or wealth. We must admire Sen for staking out in a completely uncompromising way a reasonable position on the relationship between freedom and development. Sen stresses not only the evils of corruption and the short-sightedness of thinking of wealth in purely material terms, but also the intensely liberating effects of gender equality in not only empowering women, but in undermining the tribal and patriarchal roots of backwardness.

This book reads like an official United Nations document. It is formal and repetitive. The book could be cut to 80 pages instead of its current 366, and it would be an exciting read. Sen is also a bit tedious and pompous, every playing the role of the wise patrician. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful work that deserves to be respected.

Awesome is Development as Freedom

Reviewed by Kathy Stephens, 2009-07-06

First of all, it is extremely difficult to get this book and a couple of Milton Friedman books like it. I was surprised when Amazon had all 4 books I needed on Freedom. This and the books like it demonstrate how freedom can be achieved without waging war and without throwing tons of governmental taxpayer money at the issues. The books were recommended by a friend of mine from India who now likes in Sacramento. I ask him how he obtained the wisdom of the ages and he told me about these books.

Trite yet obvious

Reviewed by Stephanie Corwin, 2008-12-22

I was disappointed with this book. It's really not the least bit insightful or helpful--opening your eyes driving through any slum would yield the observations available here.

Look for something else if you're considering this book, or borrow it from a library instead of purchasing.

Great Book On Development Theory

Reviewed by Andrew Means, 2008-09-29

Development as Freedom dives into the concept that both the result and mechanism of development is the growth of actual freedoms that people enjoy. It is no good to be rich slave.

The book dives headfirst into various development theories that both support and oppose this idea and Amartya Sen navigates them all with ease. He does a great job explaining varying economic theories to someone like me who has no economic background. If you are interested in international development work this is a must-read.