Traditional investors often put money into companies focused mainly on the returns they will see, while many nonprofits and government agencies provide funding for programs in return for measurable social impact. Impact investing attempts to join business and social concerns. The point of impact investing is to fund companies that not only generate financial returns but
It is amazing how much change can be caused by one person’s idea. The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is a result of Jorn Lyseggen’s believe that with guidance and support people can achieve remarkable results. Established by the non-profit Meltwater Foundation, MEST developed its program in Accra, Ghana in 2008 as an effort
All societies have problems. I am sure this is not a shock to anyone. Neighbors have disputes, poverty exists and inequality grows. Simply put, if each individual of a society is imperfect, so too is society, and since no one is perfect, we each play a part in making society imperfect. And like people, institutions
A “necessity entrepreneur” is an individual who starts a business not because they recognize an opportunity to make money, but because there is no other option to make a living. Sadly, billions of people in the developing world with little access to education or reliable jobs are in this position. Their microbusinesses are often simple.
Individual debt, in all forms, is on the rise, and the staggering accumulation is having unforeseen and unintended consequences. To back up the claim that debt is rising, we point to outstanding credit card debt in the U.S., which is over $1 trillion for the first time. Combine this with poor personal financial management skills
Social Security policy is unsustainable in its current form. What has consumed a significant portion of America’s paychecks and helped sustain a significant portion of America’s seniors is destined for change. In 2019, the trustees of the Social Security program released a report predicting that all of the trust fund’s reserves would run out by
The core of the American Dream — equality of opportunity and rewards commensurate with efforts and abilities — has enchanted millions of people across the globe. However, it is important to assess whether the reality bears out that ideal. Although two-thirds of Americans (69 percent) agree with the statement that “people are rewarded for intelligence
Uber, Craigslist, eBay, Airbnb; you know them, you may use them, they are all part of the shared economy. The concept is simple enough. Market your assets to peers in the informal cyber marketplace. Maria, a former wedding photographer, has a closet chock full of camera equipment, four small kids and a growing stack of
According to the SBA; as of 2018, 99.9% of US businesses are small businesses which employ more than 47.5% of the private workforce in the US. A new survey of more than 5,800 small business owners by Harvard Business School paints a dismal picture of America’s current small-business viability. Forty-three percent of firms are temporarily
Elizabeth Clark (BSc Hons Open, MA TESOL Bath) and John Hoffmire, Chairman of the Center on Business and Poverty and the Carmen Porco Chair of Sustainable Business at the Center. As Covid-19 continues impacting on both the health and economies of nations around the world, it is perhaps time to focus on how to occupy
The American people are no strangers to the spirit of charitable giving. A phenomenal figure from Charity Navigator shows that as many as 50 percent of American households donated money when the 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti. This giving accumulated to $1.4 billion. Another example of American goodness was the $1.6 billion donated to victims of
A “necessity entrepreneur” is an individual who starts a business not because they recognize an opportunity to make money, but because there is no other option to make a living. Sadly, billions of people in the developing world with little access to education or reliable jobs are in this position. Their microbusinesses are often simple.
All societies have problems. I am sure this is not a shock to anyone. Neighbors have disputes, poverty exists and inequality grows. Simply put, if each individual of a society is imperfect, so too is society, and since no one is perfect, we each play a part in making society imperfect. And like people, institutions
One of the most recognizable myths from ancient Greece is the tale of King Midas. For those unfamiliar with the story, King Midas received a wish from the god Dionysus that he used to have everything he touched turn into gold. At first delighted, Midas quickly realized the folly of his decision after he was
Len Greenhalgh is Professor of Management, Emeritus at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth College was founded in 1769 with a royal charter to serve Native Americans and European settlers in New England. The college’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion has continued ever since. Greenhalgh took a faculty position
Across the United States, it is not uncommon to see billboards and advertisements for a local lottery. These are often joined by other joint lotteries, some of which cover several states. While the variety is seemingly endless, all the ads and sponsorships of the games share one trait: a warning. Often found in the fine
Those answering this question seem to have become more and more optimistic over the past several decades. Major advances in technology, education, healthcare and business practices have led to reduced poverty rates around the world. Although victory is still a long way off, it seems that we have a fighting chance in the battle against poverty.
By John Hoffmire The beacon of development often conjures up images of radical innovations, disruptive models and leapfrog technologies. And yet, as nations attempt to embrace the promises of development, there is often a colossal failure of both imagination and execution in providing for even the most basic of human needs. Measurable social change, ensuring
In the last 50 years, family structures have changed dramatically. Just half a century ago, 75 percent of children lived in a home with two married parents in their first marriage. Today, less than half of children are raised in such a traditional situation, and more than a third are raised by single parents. This
In a recent column, I asked readers to write in with ideas about how full employment would influence the debate about inequality in the U.S. Since the column was published, eradicating poverty and trying to address inequality have been even more ever present in the spotlight as issues to be addressed in meaningful ways. Many
