Sustainable Human Development ― A New Territorial and People-centred Perspective

Today, the global debate on development is at a crucial turning point. Discussions on post-2015 processes with the UN as well as on the reform of the EU Cohesion Policy, interact with a heterogeneous combination of diffused global instability and social unrest, long-standing recessions and extraordinary growth processes, together with increasing concentration of economic activity, wealth and power. Within this scenario, the authors stress the importance of dealing with economic competitiveness, social inclusion, environmental protection and poverty reduction at the local level, recognizing the interplay between the evolution of local development systems and the expansion of individual and collective capabilities. Blending Amartya Sen's people-centred and opportunity-oriented Capability Approach with the literature on place-based local development processes, this book helps understanding multidimensional paths of local change within a Sustainable Human Development perspective and analyzing what means are available to enable human flourishing.

Mario Biggeri is Associate Professor in Development Economics at the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Florence, Italy, and Scientific Director of ARCO Lab (Action Research for CO-development). He has conducted research for a number of international organizations on capability approach, international cooperation, impact evaluation, local development, well-being of children and persons with disabilities. He is Fellow of the Human Development Capability Association (HDCA) and scholar of the 'Florence School' on Local Development.

Andrea Ferrannini is Coordinator of the Strategic Unit on Local Development of ARCO Lab (Action Research for CO-development), PIN S.c.r.l., University of Florence, Italy. He has been working in several countries such as the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Ethiopia, Albania and Serbia, acquiring expertise on local development processes, human development and participatory methods.