The Mantra of Meritocracy
Our ongoing obsession with the myth of meritocracy is now spreading to education systems in developing economies with pernicious effects.
Social Issues - Articles
Feeding the Future of Agriculture with Vertical Farming
The technology-driven model of agriculture may offer a means to address farm output and food security in the years to come.
Catastrophic Times: Leadership, When Everyone Is Down
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a nonprofit leader shares lessons on preparedness, collaboration, and resilience.
From Principle to Practice: Humanitarian Innovation and Experimentation
Without methods to gauge success and failure, and without appropriate ethical frameworks, humanitarian tech may do more harm than good.
How to Help a Social Startup Thrive
Five rules of the road from a seed-stage investor in financial technology for the underserved.
To Base US Policy on Evidence, We Need to be Able to Say the Word
The Trump administration wants to ban terms like “evidence-based” from government reporting. But if policymakers can’t make budget and policy decisions based on evidence, what, exactly, is supposed to guide them?
Review
Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
The Heath brothers' book shows how, if we pay attention and work creatively, we can elevate ordinary moments into life-changing events.
Can #MeToo Have Lasting Influence?
Advocates and organizers need to think strategically about how to ensure that women are supported as they continue to report sexual violence and their perpetrators are held accountable. To do so, they can look to the science on social norms.
Health Care: The Cool Stuff Doesn’t Matter If the Basics Aren’t There
Fund primary health care. Everywhere. Now.
Excerpt
Happy Accidents: The Transformative Power of ‘Yes, And’ at Work and in Life
What an improv comedy troupe's experience weathering the financial crisis can teach other organizations about resilience.