Understanding Capabilities, Functionings and Travel in High and Low Income Neighbourhoods in Manila

Abstract

Transport plays an important role in helping people to access activities and participate in life. The availability of transport networks, the modes available, new infrastructure proposals, and the type of urban development can all impact on and change activity participation, and hence contribute to social equity in the city. This article uses surveys in low and high income neighbourhoods in Manila, the Philippines, to assess the social equity implications of differential access to transport. The analysis demonstrates how the theoretical framework of the Capability Approach (Nussbaum, 2003;Sen, 1985Sen, , 1999Sen, , 2009) can be used to assess what individuals might be able to access (capabilities) versus their actual travel (functionings). The spatial patterns of travel and access to activities are assessed, demonstrating significant differences by gender, age, income and neighbourhood, in terms of travel mode and cost of travel; health, physical and mental integrity; senses, imagination and thoughts; reasoning and planning; social interaction; natural environment; sustainable modes; and information. This approach to assessing the transport dimensions of social equity offers much potential, based not only on access to resources or consumption of mobility, but also in the opportunities that people have in relation to their activity participation. The case study context is also informative, with Manila providing an example of an Asian city with high levels of private car usage, high levels of congestion, and large spatial and income differentials in travel and associated social equity.

The Importance of Transport for Social Inclusion

“…The article distinguishes between what people might be able to access (capabilities) and their actual travel, which the authors term 'functionings'. Hickman et al (2017) find significant differences by gender, age, income and neighbourhood, with social equity implications. The authors note that a capabilities approach is empirically difficult but offers opportunities to better incorporate social considerations alongside economic and environmental factors in a travel setting.…”

Banning Diesel Vehicles in London: Is 2040 Too Late?

“…Respondents were asked about the kind of vehicle they would purchase if they were going to purchase one today. Lastly, the eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh questions in the survey sought to obtain information about the participants' characteristics in terms of gender, age, highest educational attainment, and main transport mode for work [41,43,[46][47][48], all of which are presented in Table 1 below. The final survey question was an open question that asked respondents to provide any suggestions and recommendations on how to improve London's air quality in relation to the diesel vehicle emissions.…”

The Association between Urban Public Transport Infrastructure and Social Equity and Spatial Accessibility within the Urban Environment: An Investigation of Tramlink in London

“…Some see public transport as an influencer, creating a "common wealth" to help the population meet their needs and, accordingly, providing everyone with a certain level of mobility to reduce barriers to entry to local amenities, jobs and education and create a more inclusive society [41]. However, in most literature, this is not a prominent theme, as it promotes public transport's environmental qualities over its social sustainability potential and fails to evaluate transport infrastructure from a social equity perspective [47][48][49].…”

“…These attributes have been described as a human's basic needs and therefore the state's welfare regime should provide these to an adequate standard as a right [45]. However, few empirical studies have emphasised transport-related social equity issues e.g., [47,48].…”