Measuring the well being of children using a capability approach An application to Indian data

This paper aims at conceptualising the well being of children in developing countries using a capability approach and at measuring well being in a pilot study using a multiple indicator multiple causes model (MIMIC). First, the concept of capabilities for children is defined. Secondly the paper deals with issues related to measurement of functionings. The existence of multiple, inter-related functionings to measure children’s well being raises the question of how to combine them in empirical research. I use the richness of the capability approach and the information in all the indicators selected, to develop a MIMIC (Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes) model. Children well being is also assumed to be caused by other exogeneous variables like for instance gender of the child or income of the family. Lastly, I describe the data set used and provide a pilot empirical application of the MIMIC model.