Amartya Sen

Amartya Kumar Sen (born November 3, 1933) is an Indian Economist best known for his work on famine, human development theory, welfare economics, and the underlying mechanisms of poverty. He received the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work in welfare economics in 1998 and the Bharat Ratna in 1999.

Quotes

• The absurdity of public-choice theory is captured by Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen in the following little scenario: "Can you direct me to the railway station?" asks the stranger. "Certainly," says the local, pointing in the opposite direction, towards the post office, "and would you post this letter for me on your way?" "Certainly," says the stranger, resolving to open it to see if it contains anything worth stealing.

::--Linda McQuaig, All You Can Eat

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• When referring to sanctions against Burma: they "are more likely to be effective there than almost anywhere else I can imagine" — provided other countries join in.
• Reducing corruption in developing countries by opening markets would be reason enough to liberalize, even if no other economic benefits materialized.

::-- Handbook of Economic Freedom

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• No substantial famine has ever occurred in any independent and democratic country with a relatively free press.

::--Democracy as a Universal Value, Journal of Democracy 10.3 (1999) 3-17 (Sen counts the Irish Potato Famine in 1846 as an instance of alien rule, even though the UK was independent and democratic at the time.)

Related Topics:
Irish Potato Famine - 1846 - UK

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