ARTYKUŁ
Libertarian paternalism and the capability
approach. Friends or foes?
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Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Polska
Submission date: 2023-12-04
Final revision date: 2024-04-02
Acceptance date: 2024-05-15
Online publication date: 2024-12-21
Publication date: 2024-12-21
Ekonomista 2024;(4):456-482
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ABSTRACT
This paper compares the capability approach (CA) and libertarian paternalism (LP) to see whether they are compatible. The
comparison focuses on rationality, wellbeing, and freedom. The main theoretical framework is Sen’s ‘reason to value’ (RtV).
The relevance of this to CA, and LP is analysed, and whether the primacy that CA and LP both accord to reason leads to paternalism
is examined. Although the principal focus is on Sen’s, Sunstein’s and Thaler’s original ideas, their key concepts are
analysed in the context of the contemporary critical literature on the topic. This critical analysis not only makes it possible to
assess whether CA and LP are compatible, but also to see how they perceive rationality, wellbeing, and freedom. The critical
analysis further differentiates the various interpretations of RtV in the literature and explains how CA and LP function.
FUNDING
This work was supported by the Internal Research Grant of the Faculty of
Economics and Finance at the Wroclaw University of Economics. Grant number:
MPK: B701197.