[sotd] Selling to the Poor: Doing Well = Doing Good? [November 21, 2007]
- From: "The Site of the Day" <sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:52:42 -0400
Site of the Day for Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Selling to the Poor: Doing Well = Doing Good?
Today's site, from those inquiring folks at the Why Files, presents an
inspirational and optimistic concept which attempts to marry capitalism to
philanthropy. Gentle Subscribers will discover a new politically correct
term and an interesting examination of how it may be possible to cash in on
selling to those at the base of the global economic pyramid while
maintaining the moral high ground.
"Dark night sheds light on new path to sustainable development ... Could
the pitch-black villages and shantytowns of the developing world present an
opportunity to alleviate poverty, improve education, goose green
technology, save some energy, and create jobs -- all in one package? ... By
marketing to billions of lower-income people, business can do well by doing
good: Affordable green goods for "the base of the pyramid" could improve
lives and cut environmental damage. Could this work?" - from the website
The exhibit explores the reality of global economics where those at the
Base of the Pyramid spend trillions of dollars a year on inferior goods and
services which could be replaced by lower cost, better quality,
environmentally sound products and services. From looking at the explosive
growth of the cell phone industry in Africa at the turn of the century to
establishing companies to purify and sell local drinking water, the
presentation provides a compelling case for innovative capitalism to raise
the standard of living for those at the Base of the Pyramid (BOP). Citing
the example of a Canadian non-profit company as an illustration, the
exhibit charts the low cost, durability and better quality of the latest
LEDs in comparison to the frequently used expensive and dangerous kerosene.
It points out that powered by inexpensive photovoltaic panels, LEDs could
transform struggling third world villages by providing a cheap source of
artificial light. A noteworthy bibliography rounds out the exhibit.
Soar over to the site to explore how selling to those in developing nations
might be both profitable and morally upstanding at:
http://whyfiles.org/270sustain_develop/
A.M. Holm
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