Capabilities, Housing, and Basic Justice: An Approach to Policy Evaluation. Issue 3 (26th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taylor, Helen
• Is Part Of: Housing, theory and society. Volume 37:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 316
• Publication Date: 2020-05-26
• Subjects: Rawls -- capabilities -- social justice; Housing -- Periodicals; City planning -- Periodicals; Housing -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Housing policy -- Periodicals; 363.51
• DOI: 10.1080/14036096.2019.1708453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1403-6096

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this response article, I welcome the development of the capabilities approach as a normative evaluative approach to policy. This development provides a useful and interesting contribution to how we think about housing, particularly with regard to normative engagement with housing issues. Highlighting some of the issues with a housing-related use of the capabilities approach by the author, I suggest that the theory of justice created by John Rawls can be used to assist in further exploring how to use capabilities as a way of analysing housing policy. Here, Rawls' metric should not be dismissed as fitting solely within the resource-focused evaluative approach to policy, but as one which can also contribute to the development of a normative evaluative approach.