Examining Multidimensional Inequality and Deprivation in Britain Using the Capability Approach

Abstract

There is growing interest in the development and application of the capability approach as a basis for multidimensional inequality and deprivation analysis. This article contributes to the growing body of literature in this area by examining how the capability approach is being operationalised as a basis for national equality and human rights monitoring in Britain, using the Equality Measurement Framework (EMF). The EMF is a capability-based analytical tool that evaluates social inequalities across ten domains of freedom and opportunity (or capability) and three critical aspects of inequality (functionings, treatment and autonomy). The current article provides a conceptual overview of the EMF and sets out some of the latest findings against selected Framework indicators drawn from a number of different domains. The substantive findings reveal patterns of inequality and deprivation within a range of critical areas of life, including life, physical security, standard of living, participation, individual life and identity, expression and self-respect.

Keywords:

• multidimensional inequality
• deprivation
• capability approach
• human rights

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to our colleagues at the LSE and EHRC, as well as to the research teams that worked on the EHRC Measurement Framework updating exercise. At the EHRC, particular thanks go to Elizabeth Bowles, Fiona Glen, Karen Hurrell, Andrew Nocon, Dave Perfect and Gwen Oliver in the Research Team whose work has been heavily drawn on in the production of this article. A number of individuals and organisations have been involved in EHRC Measurement Framework updating exercises and carried out secondary analysis of survey data for EHRC. We would particularly like to acknowledge the work undertaken by a team led by Liz Clery at the National Centre for Social Research; a team at Lancaster University led by Paul Iganski which carried out secondary analysis using the British Crime Survey; and a team led by Wendy Sykes at Independent Social Research. The current article draws heavily on these findings and the associated EHRC Briefing notes and data tables (available at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/our-work/key-projects/our-measurement-framework/briefing-papers-and-data, accessed December 2014). A number of datasets accessed through the UK Data Archive http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/ have been used to generate the evidence base and we are grateful to the archive for making these available. At LSE, Tania Burchardt has co-developed the EMF and CMF and has taken forward the workstream on autonomy and we are grateful for her comments and insights in relation to this article. Finally, we are grateful for peer review comments from two anonymous referees whose helpful suggestions have contributed to the development of this article. Errors of interpretation or fact remain with the authors.

Notes

¹ Social class is not a “protected characteristic” under British equalities legislation. However, it is included as an “equality characteristic” for the purposes of the EMF and all EMF indicators are systematically disaggregated by social class.

² We are grateful for peer review comments which highlighted and clarified this point.

³ For a discussion of the range of different methodological approaches adopted in the literature on the capability approach, see, for example, Martinetti (2004).

⁴ The Equality Act (2006) set out the responsibilities of the EHRC with respect to the following characteristics: (a) age; (b) disability; (c) gender; (d) proposed, commenced or completed reassignment of gender…;(e) race; (f) religion or belief and (g) sexual orientation. This list is extended in the 2010 Equality Act to include marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. Duties under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to social class have not come into force following the 2010 General Election. See the Equality Act (2006), Retrieved May 2013, from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/3/contents; and the Equality Act (2010), Retrieved May 2013, from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents.

⁵ See the Human Rights Act (1998), Retrieved September 2013, from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents.

⁶ Routine occupations include routine and manual occupations such as lorry and van drivers, cleaners, porters, agricultural labourers and bar staff. For further details, see ONS (n.d.)

⁷ Significant increases compared with other base years (for example, over the period 2003-2011) are also observed. The evaluation here is based on the most recent data published by ONS at the time of writing. The data is being revised in line with new population estimates (on which, see Table 2, note 4). It is unlikely that this will affect the finding of a significant upturn in the rate for men aged 45–59 over the period 2007–2011 (ONS 2014).