Measuring capabilities with random scale models. Women’s freedom of movement.

In Sen’s capability approach well-being is evaluated in terms of capabilities (what people are free to do and to be) instead of functionings (what they do and who they are). We utilise random scale models to measure the latent capability of Italian women to move freely when we only observe their realized choices. Our estimations show that the percentage of women predicted to be restricted in their freedom of movement (have restricted capability sets) is 23-25 per cent. If all women were unconstrained, our model predicts that 15-17 per cent of them would choose to do more activities.