Christopher Bliss: Life‐Style and the Standard of Living

Abstract

Sen agrees with Bliss's conclusion regarding the impossibility of making comparisons where changes in life‐styles and preferences are involved, but raises problems with Bliss's methodology and accuses Bliss of methodological conservatism. Sen takes the issue specifically with Bliss's constant‐taste methodology as it can provide wrong answers in comparing living standards. Sen concludes that changing tastes over commodity bundles and altering life‐styles would not prevent a reasoned judgment against the enforced deprivation of living standards.