Definition: Capability

Capability - "the effective freedom of a person to achieve states of beings and doings, or a vector of functionings, such as being adequately nourished, avoiding premature mortality, appearing in public without shame, being happy, and being free. This freedom to attain, rather than the functionings themselves, is the primary goal, meaning that capability does not correlate closely to attainment, such as GNP per capita." - source: Economic Development 4th Edition by E. Wayne Nafziger