A Brief History of Social Entrepreneurship
Why is the field of social entrepreneurship gaining so much traction? Why was a model of using business for social good developed?
Ineffective aid programs played a significant role in the development of the field of social enterprise. For over 50 years, the international development industry relied on foreign aid, multilateral institutions, government agencies and NGOs to address issues such as poverty, health care and depletion of resources. Increasingly aid workers, agencies hired to track social impact and recipients of the aid themselves began to recognize aid money was not being used effectively or leading to sustainable impact.
Economists, academics and international development workers continue to debate whether traditional forms of charity and foreign aid are worthwhile pursuing. Social entrepreneurship is viewed as a potential alternative.
Two prominent economists have shaped the discussion on global poverty with their drastically divergent views on foreign aid: Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterly. Jeffrey Sachs is an Economist and Professor at Columbia University. He has spearheaded the Millennium Development Village project. William Easterly is an Economist and Professor at New York University. He is the author of the White Man’s Burden.
Why is the field of social entrepreneurship gaining so much traction? Why was a model of using business for social good developed?
Ineffective aid programs played a significant role in the development of the field of social enterprise. For over 50 years, the international development industry relied on foreign aid, multilateral institutions, government agencies and NGOs to address issues such as poverty, health care and depletion of resources. Increasingly aid workers, agencies hired to track social impact and recipients of the aid themselves began to recognize aid money was not being used effectively or leading to sustainable impact.
Economists, academics and international development workers continue to debate whether traditional forms of charity and foreign aid are worthwhile pursuing. Social entrepreneurship is viewed as a potential alternative.
Two prominent economists have shaped the discussion on global poverty with their drastically divergent views on foreign aid: Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterly. Jeffrey Sachs is an Economist and Professor at Columbia University. He has spearheaded the Millennium Development Village project. William Easterly is an Economist and Professor at New York University. He is the author of the White Man’s Burden.
"Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry."
— Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka, a global nonprofit
advancing social entrepreneurship
advancing social entrepreneurship
What is a Social Entrepreneur?
Everyone has a different definition, and we hope you will develop your own. First, consider this perspective from The Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University.
Ashoka Mini-Case Studies
Social entrepreneurship can be applied to many fields. In this condensed guide to social entrepreneurship by Ashoka, see short examples of social entrepreneurs in business, health, education, environment and human rights.
Everyone has a different definition, and we hope you will develop your own. First, consider this perspective from The Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University.
Ashoka Mini-Case Studies
Social entrepreneurship can be applied to many fields. In this condensed guide to social entrepreneurship by Ashoka, see short examples of social entrepreneurs in business, health, education, environment and human rights.
Current Perspectives on Social Entrepreneurship
This blog post tracks the most recent & relevant articles on the foreign aid debate, including discussion of the annual Bill & Melinda Gates Letter. If you would like to understand the debate and develop your own opinion on the subject, please take a look at the blog post, including the following links:
This blog post tracks the most recent & relevant articles on the foreign aid debate, including discussion of the annual Bill & Melinda Gates Letter. If you would like to understand the debate and develop your own opinion on the subject, please take a look at the blog post, including the following links:
Foreign Aid: An Important Debate in the Field of Social Entrepreneurship
Additional reading and listening on the debate over the effectiveness of traditional forms of charity can be found here:
Additional reading and listening on the debate over the effectiveness of traditional forms of charity can be found here:
- Tiny Spark Podcast tracks the business of doing good:
- Tracking Sachs MDV project: http://www.tinyspark.org/podcasts/tracking-sachs/
- The Case of Somaly Mam