Beyond Microfinance
Two new players in the world's social investing scene seek financial returns along with social impact.
Economic Development Social innovations that improve the living standards of the poor
Latest
Let’s Play Microloan
Kids win beads and help give loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Podcast
Panel Discussion - Skoll World Forum: Hybrid Business Models
How do you use for-profit activities to fund your social entrepreneurship mission? In this panel discussion at the Skoll World Forum, experts talk about how to combine for- and nonprofit activities for greatest effect. They show that business and nonprofit can mix, drawing on examples such as efforts to profitably provide water to poor villagers by training street children to run businesses, and franchising medical care to creating a transparent market place for handmade goods.
Podcast
Vicente Fox - Mexico’s Economic Challenges and Opportunities
Most Americans are unaware of the enormous progress Mexico has enjoyed since the peso's devastating collapse in 1994. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox highlights his country's opportunities to foster democracy, develop entrepreneurism, and promote alternative energy sources as it emerges as a world economic power. He addresses challenges, including a poor educational system, rapid population growth, and dwindling oil reserves. This audio lecture is sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation.
Podcast
Alejandro Toledo - Lifting Latin America Out of Poverty
Latin America may be poised to become a much bigger player on the world economic stage, yet 54 percent of its citizens would choose an autocratic regime over a democratically elected government if it meant more jobs. Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo reflects on the challenge of democratic development and consolidation in Latin America in this audio interview sponsored by the Stanford School of Education and moderated by Stanford sociology and political science professor, Larry Diamond.
Most Popular
The Problem With Fair Trade Coffee
Fair Trade-certified coffee is growing in sales, but strict certification requirements are resulting in uneven economic advantages for coffee growers and lower quality coffee for consumers.
Innovative Solutions for the Housing Crisis
Six pathways to making housing more affordable and available from the Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability.
The Profit in Nonprofit
Why Kiva chose to be a 501(c)(3), what this tax status buys the organization, and how being a nonprofit poses challenges.
Beyond the Poverty Line
A new approach to measuring poverty is needed, one that accounts for multiple factors such as housing, and regional economic differences.
Beyond ‘X Number Served’
To cure the social sector’s metric monomania, we must get comfortable with complexity.