Conceptions of freedom and ranking opportunity sets: A typology

A wide diversity of rankings of opportunity sets are characterized through what is now commonly called the freedom of choice literature. We claim the normative content of each of these propositions can be analyzed and clarified through a typology. We distinguish two kinds of rankings: rankings according to one prudential value and rankings according to several prudential values. In the first case, we present rank-ings according to diverse prudential values such as freedom of choice, freedom as autonomy, freedom as exercice of significant choices, neg-ative freedom, positive freedom and utility. In the second case, the rankings may capture some specific notions of overall well-being. We organize the presentation around different forms of commensurability between prudential values: weighting, trumping, equal consideration and discontinuity. JEL classification code: D11, D63, I31 Key-words: opportunity sets, freedom of choice, prudential values, overall well-being, typolog