Two Concepts of Causation

Implications for Poverty

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3884963
AutoresPaul Shaffer (0000-0002-4378-3805, autor de correspondencia)
Año2015
Volumen46
Número1
Páginas148-166
Fecha de publicación2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaDevelopment and Change (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0012-155X • E-ISSN: 1467-7660
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/dech.12140
OpenAlexW2138811571
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas11
Referencias citadas52

This article seeks to bring to the attention of a readership in development studies a distinction in the literature on causation, and to show how it matters for poverty. The distinction is between 'difference-making' and 'production' as a depiction of the causal relationship. It is argued that the 'difference-making/production' distinction lies at the root of applied debates about how to assess the impact of development programmes, how to understand the causation of poverty and how to conceive of duties to eliminate or reduce poverty. Understanding such foundational differences is important in order to expose error in applied debates, to clarify the reasons for actual methodological choice, to explain conflicting research results and to shed light on the reasons for differing policy prescriptions

Audience measurement · Causal analysis · Causation · Criticism · Depiction · Economic growth · Economics · Epistemology · Order (exchange) · Political science · Positive economics · Poverty · Root cause · Sociology · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · International Development and Aid · Law · Philosophy · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare