Social Rights and Economics: Claims to Health Care and Education in Developing Countries

This chapter describes the direct rights to health care and education services. It argues that the disagreements between a 'rights-based' and a development economics approach to social welfare are not as large as they look, and that, with regard to practical policy effects for health care and education, rights advocates and economists are not far apart. In addition, it considers some of the most common approaches. It also evaluates the foundations and applications of social rights in development. It then reviews an economic approach to enhancing health and education service provision. Next, it emphasizes differences and similarities in various approaches. It describes inferences for policy work in these sectors in developing countries.