ABSTRACT
Aims of the chapter
To show the importance of value judgements in development.
To illustrate how value judgements – or normative frameworks – have a practical impact and shape policy making.
To introduce the basic value of the human development and capability approach: that policies should promote human flourishing.
Key pointsValue judgements lie at the heart of development analysis and policy. However these value judgements are often not acknowledged.
Public policy aims to create and sustain improvements. Different ideas about what should be improved lead to different policies (e.g. poverty reduction policies vary depending on how poverty is defined). In contrast with approaches that seek to improve the national economy, or people’s resources, or their utility, human development argues that people’s well-being should improve. Different policies ensue.
Development policy involves uncertainty, trade-offs and complexity.
The output or impact of any policy depends in part on the social, political, institutional, cultural and economic context.
