The correct option is Amartya Sen.
Explanation
The statement reflects the core argument of the "Capability Approach" to development, which posits that the expansion of human freedom is both the primary end and the principal means of development.
Analysis:
- Amartya Sen: This view is explicitly attributed to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, particularly in his seminal work Development as Freedom (1999). He argues that development is the process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy, such as political liberty, social opportunities, and economic facilities. He posits that freedom is not just the ultimate goal of development but also a crucial instrument for achieving it.
- Mahbub-ul-Haq: A Pakistani economist who pioneered the Human Development Index (HDI). While he collaborated with Sen to shift the focus of development economics from national income to human well-being, the specific theoretical articulation of development as freedom is Sen's contribution.
- Adam Smith: Associated with classical economics and The Wealth of Nations, focusing on free markets, division of labor, and capital accumulation.
- Keynes: Associated with modern macroeconomics, focusing on aggregate demand and government intervention to manage economic cycles.
Key Takeaway: Amartya Sen’s "Development as Freedom" asserts that development consists of the removal of various types of unfreedoms (such as poverty and tyranny) that leave people with little choice and opportunity.