Education and Capabilities: a Multidimensional Approach in Counteracting Poverty

The paper addresses the issue of poverty from a multidimensional perspective, assuming that appropriate responses should be aimed not only at financial support, but also at the strengthening of social relationships and individual skills. A multidimensional response to poverty must be able to impact simultaneously on the development of human, cultural and social capital, thus helping to change consumer habits and modalities of choice for the many aspects of life. The underlying assumption is that current public policy approaches to poverty need rethinking and partnerships need to be created with private actors capable of mobilising social and educational resources to confront complex issues. In this context, education is considered a fundamental capability input, that is, a set of possibilities for individuals to develop and realise their capabilities.