Beyond the Grumpy Rich Man and the Happy Peasant. Subjective Perspectives on Wellbeing and Food Security in Rural India
Abstract
This paper relates different subjective approaches to wellbeing to different traditions of economic analysis. The dominant formula of 鈥楽ubjective Well-Being鈥� is attractive because it promises a direct measure of utility, but other approaches bring different strengths to policy evaluation. 鈥業nner Wellbeing,鈥� which has affinities to Sen鈥檚 Capabilities Approach, is introduced.
Analysis of primary data from mixed method research in rural India explores what 鈥榟appiness鈥� and other subjective perspectives add to understanding of food security policies at a community and individual level. This shows that subjective perceptions contribute most when considered on their own terms, rather than as proxies for objective outcomes.
Citation
White, S.C. Beyond the Grumpy Rich Man and the Happy Peasant. Subjective Perspectives on Wellbeing and Food Security in Rural India. Centre for Development Studies, University of Bath, Bath, UK (2013) 31 pp. [Working Paper no. 25, Bath Papers in International Development and Wellbeing]
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