Rethinking Social Justice with UBI & UBS: The Capability Approach

Are you curious about how to address poverty and inequality in a rapidly changing economy? In this video, we'll explore the Capability Approach, Universal Basic Income, Universal Basic Services, and how they have the potential to empower communities and individuals to lead fulfilling lives.

Welcome to this video on the Capability Approach, Universal Basic Income, and Universal Basic Services. In this video, we will explore the theoretical foundations of the Capability Approach, which emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to achieve the capabilities they value most. We will also delve into the concepts of Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services, and how they align with the Capability Approach.

First, let's delve into the Capability Approach. The Capability Approach is a holistic approach to addressing poverty and inequality, which has the potential to improve the lives of marginalized individuals. This approach focuses on the individual, rather than just income or resources, and recognizes that people have different needs and aspirations. The Capability Approach emphasizes the importance of human development, which includes not just economic growth but also the expansion of people's capabilities and opportunities.

This theoretical framework in developmental economics and social welfare was first introduced by philosopher and economist Amartya Sen in the 1980s. Sen developed the Capability Approach as a response to the limitations of traditional approaches to poverty and inequality, which focused solely on income and resources. He argued that these approaches failed to take into account the diverse needs and aspirations of individuals and the multiple dimensions of well-being that are important for a fulfilling life.

Sen drew on the work of other philosophers, such as Aristotle and Martha Nussbaum, to develop the Capability Approach. He emphasized the importance of human capabilities, or the real opportunities that individuals have to lead the kind of life they have reason to value.

The Capability Approach has been further developed and applied in different fields such as health, education, and gender studies by scholars such as Martha Nussbaum, Diane Elson, and Sabina Alkire. It has been used as a tool for policy analysis and evaluation, as well as in grassroots development initiatives, to ensure that development programs are inclusive and empowering. It remains an influential framework in the field of development economics and social welfare, and is widely recognized as a valuable perspective for addressing poverty and inequality.

Central to the Capability Approach is the empowerment of individuals to make choices and pursue their aspirations. The framework encourages individuals to actively participate in the development process and to have a voice in shaping their own lives, taking into account multiple dimensions of well-being such as health, education, and political participation.

The Capability Approach defines capabilities as the "combination of functionings and freedoms" that individuals have access to. Functionings refer to the different things people can do or be, and include physical functionings, such as being able to walk or see, and social functionings, such as being able to participate in social activities or having access to education. They are the actual achievements of a person, and the Capability Approach emphasizes the ability of individuals to function in a certain way.

Freedoms, on the other hand, refer to the various opportunities individuals have to pursue their aspirations. These include political freedoms, such as the freedom to vote or participate in political processes, or economic freedoms, such as the freedom to own property or start a business. In other words, freedoms are the opportunities that individuals have to achieve their desired functionings. The Capability Approach emphasizes the ability and freedom to pursue the these goals.

UBI and UBS

Now, let's explore Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services. Universal Basic Income is a policy proposal that would provide a guaranteed income to all citizens, regardless of their employment status or income level. Universal Basic Services, on the other hand, is a policy proposal that would provide all citizens with access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing.

Both Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services align with the Capability Approach, as they aim to ensure that individuals have the resources they need to achieve the capabilities they value most. Examples of countries and cities that have implemented Universal Basic Income include Finland, which implemented a Universal Basic Income pilot program, and cities such as Stockton, California, and Utrecht in the Netherlands, which have also implemented pilot programs.

Benefits and criticisms of The Capability Approach

One benefit of this approach is that it focuses on individuals, rather than just income or resources. It recognizes that people have different needs and aspirations, and that income or resources alone do not guarantee well-being. For example, a person who is unable to walk will have to spend a larger part of their resources to get around. This may seem 'fair,' as both people get the same resources, but it isn't. By focusing on individuals, the Capability Approach ensures that development programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals and the community, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

Another benefit is that it promotes human development. The Capability Approach emphasizes the importance of human development, which includes not just economic growth but also the expansion of people's capabilities and opportunities. This framework allows for the assessment of progress in terms of people's capabilities and opportunities to lead the kind of life they have reason to value. It ensures that development programs are not just focused on economic growth but also on the well-being and empowerment of individuals and communities.

This approach is also inclusive and holistic in nature, as it takes into account multiple dimensions of well-being such as health, education, and political participation. It also considers how different social groups may have different capabilities and opportunities, and how these can be affected by various factors such as poverty, discrimination, and marginalization. This approach is important because it ensures that development programs consider multiple dimensions of well-being and are inclusive of different social groups.

Now, let's quickly go over some of the criticisms of the Capability Approach. One criticism is that it can be difficult to operationalize and implement. The approach is often criticized for being too abstract and difficult to measure. However, this can be mitigated by developing clear and measurable indicators for each capability, and by involving community members in the implementation and evaluation process to ensure that programs are tailored to their specific needs.

Another criticism is that it lacks attention to distributive justice. This means that it doesn't address the fair distribution of resources and opportunities among different social groups. However, this can be mitigated by incorporating a distributive justice lens into the Capability Approach, by analyzing how different social groups may have different capabilities and opportunities, and how these can be affected by various factors such as poverty, discrimination, and marginalization.

So, while the Capability Approach has its fair share of criticisms, it also has several benefits that make it a valuable perspective for addressing poverty and inequality.

Benefits and criticisms of UBI and UBS

Alright, let's talk about the benefits and criticisms of Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Universal Basic Services (UBS). As I explained before, UBI is a policy proposal that would provide a guaranteed income to all citizens, regardless of their employment status or income level. This policy can help reduce poverty and inequality by providing a basic income floor for everyone, thus ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources they need to meet their basic needs. It can also promote economic stability and security for individuals, allowing them to take risks and pursue opportunities without the fear of poverty.

UBS, on the other hand, is a policy proposal that would provide all citizens with access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing. This policy can improve access to these essential services for marginalized communities and individuals, leading to better health, education, and housing outcomes. It also promotes social and economic stability by ensuring that everyone has access to these essential services.

One criticism of UBI is that it can be costly to implement. It requires significant funding to provide a basic income to all citizens, and some argue that this funding would be better spent on targeted social programs. However, this can be mitigated by implementing UBI in pilot programs and gradually scaling up, as well as exploring alternative funding options such as a progressive wealth tax, wealth and income caps for individuals as well as companies, a land tax, and a financial transaction tax.

One of the criticisms of UBS is that it can be difficult to implement. It requires significant coordination and cooperation between different levels of government and various service providers. It also requires significant funding to provide these services to all citizens. This can be mitigated by involving community members in the planning and implementation process to ensure that services are tailored to their specific needs and that service providers are held accountable.

Both UBI and UBS have their benefits and criticisms, but they align with the Capability Approach in ensuring that individuals have the resources they need to achieve the capabilities they value most, and by involving community members in the planning and implementation process, it ensures that programs are tailored to their specific needs.

Technological unemployment

We also have to worry about technological unemployment. As technology continues to advance, automation and AI are becoming increasingly prevalent in the workforce. This has led to more technological unemployment, where jobs that were once done by humans are now being done by machines. This trend is only set to continue, and it is clear that we need to start thinking about how to address this issue. It is important to recognize that this technological change will require rethinking of our current political, economic, and social systems. We need to consider new ways of providing for people's needs, where little or no manual labor input is required.

This is where the Capability Approach, Universal Basic Income, and Universal Basic Services come in. These policies have the potential to empower individuals and communities, promoting human development and well-being. The Capability Approach offers a holistic and empowering approach to addressing poverty and inequality, with a focus on empowering individuals to achieve the capabilities they value most. Meanwhile, Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services aim to ensure that individuals have the resources they need to achieve the capabilities they value most.

It is clear that these policies have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of marginalized individuals and communities. So it is important that we take the necessary steps to properly implement them as soon as possible. This means developing clear and measurable indicators for each capability, involving community members in the implementation and evaluation process, and exploring alternative funding options. By taking these steps, we can ensure that these policies are effective and sustainable, and that they truly empower individuals and communities to lead fulfilling lives. We cannot afford to wait any longer, the time is now.

Technological unemployment is a significant challenge that we are facing today and it is important that we start thinking about how to address this issue. The Capability Approach, Universal Basic Income, and Universal Basic Services are game changers in addressing poverty and inequality, and they have the potential to empower individuals and communities to lead fulfilling lives even in an economy where technological unemployment is prevalent. It is important that we take the necessary steps to properly implement these policies as soon as possible. The future of our society depends on it.

Thanks for watching! I hope you’ve learned something. If so, don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up. If you’re interested in this kind of content, subscribe for more. See you in the next video!