This paper considers the functioning approach to the standard of living. It shows that, in evaluating standards of living, one is faced with deep-rooted tensions between the principle of weak dominance and the principle of minimal relativism, which requires some minimal respect for differences...

Introduction -- Part 1 The basic analytical framework -- Conceptions of individual well being -- Valuation of functioning bundles and interpersonal comparisons of well being -- Freedom and individual well being -- Freedom A re examination of the concept -- Part 2 Some applications -- Measurement...

When a society's overall deprivation or living standard is assessed in a multi-attribute framework, the following procedure is often used. First, for each attribute, a summary index is constructed to reflect a society's performance in relation to this attribute. Then, an indicator of the overall...