A Simple Intertemporal Model of Capabilities Expansion

The “capabilities approach” due to Amartya Sen has become influential in the field of economic development, and it is up to a point the theoretical background of the Human Development Index. While the approach provides a rich conceptual framework to define the goals of development, its analysis of the means to achieve them seems lacking. Building on Kuklys and Robeyns interpretation of Sen’s theory, I show how take a first step to link goals and means in the capabilities approach using a simple modified model grounded on standard growth theory.