Development can be seen as a process of expanding the real freedoms people enjoy. This
contrasts with narrower views of development, such as identifying it with the growth of gross
national product, or the rise in personal incomes. Growth of GNP or individual income can, of
course, be important as a mearzs to expanding the freedoms enjoyed by the members of
society. But freedoms also depend on other determinants, such as education and health
care, or the liberty to participate in public discussion. Development requires the removal of …

Development can be seen, it is argued here, as a process of expanding the real freedoms
that people enjoy. Focusing on human freedoms contrasts with narrower views of
development, such as identifying development with the growth of gross national product, or
with the rise in personal incomes, or with industrialization, or with techno-logical advance, or
with social modernization. Growth of GNP or of individual incomes can, of course, be very
important as means to expanding the freedoms enjoyed by the members of the society. But …