Nussbaum, capabilities and older people

This paper assesses the usefulness of Nussbaum's version of the capabilities approach for understanding the condition of older people in developing countries. It observes that ageing is a highly heterogeneous experience, but that policy debates take a polarized approach. The paper then summarizes key elements of Nussbaum's approach, relates these to older people, and identifies a key distinction between older people's internal capabilities and structural factors related to the environment they inhabit. The paper puts forward a new framework, which combines capabilities and life‐course perspectives. The policy implications of this framework are then explored. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.