In "Development as Freedom," Amartya Sen posits that true development involves eliminating different forms of unfreedoms that restrict individuals' choices and their ability to engage in rational decision-making. He suggests that these unfreedoms can include poverty, lack of education, and social discrimination, all of which impede a person's potential for growth and agency.

Sen argues that addressing and removing these substantial unfreedoms is fundamental to the overall concept of development. By fostering an environment where individuals can freely exercise their agency, societies can achieve genuine progress and well-being, making freedom an essential metric for evaluation in the context of development.