• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-97
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• 2009

This study evaluates the poverty experiences of low-income single mothers according to the Capability Approach of Amartya Sen. In this approach, the capability to achieve the basic functionings of life, not income itself, is the criterion of poverty. 26 single mothers were interviewed using focus-group interviews and in-depth interviews. 21 functionings on the existence level, 18 on the relatedness level, and 15 on the growth level were found in the areas of work, health, food consumption, clothing, housing, child rearing, and leisure. The results of this study suggest that low-income single mothers can achieve only some of the existence level functionings with significant help from welfare services. They can scarcely achieve higher level functionings in any of these areas.

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.55-80
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• 2016

Kerala, a southern-west state of India, has been vigorously studied due to its unique development status. Indeed, Kerala shows such a high level of social development as Human Development Index indicates, yet it is suffering from the low level of economic. As a result, scholars have examined a broad range of rationales to understand the 'Kerala Development Model' as discussing historical contexts, social welfare policies, land reforms by Communist Party of India, and so on. Among them, scholars agree that education is one of the most critical factors that led to social development of Kerala. Despite the consensus, there has been lack of research that deeply look into how education has been delivered, what impacts it has on people, and why it contributes to social development in Kerala. This research, thus, would discuss the meanings, values and impacts of education with the capability approach that is originally termed by Amartya Sen. The approach criticize the dominant paradigm of 'development' that is materialistic oriented, instead it emphasizes expanding a range of capabilities of people to reach 'development' that people can act upon what they value and cherish. Based on Sen's perspective, we believe that dimensions of education can be re-defined and expanded in a relation to development.