Insight
Overview
Addressing
the key issues of our time
–
poverty,
environmental threats,
inequality, conflict, disease
–
requires that we not only
work
within existing markets to
create change,
but
also that we approach
social
change by
intentionally changing
markets.
The
enterprise approach:
There are
many examples of social entrepreneurs,
philanthropists and non-profits using markets
and business practices to create social and
environmental impact. Examples range from
social enterprises that manufacture and sell
products in order to generate triple-bottom
line profits, to environmental NGOs that
partner with large multinationals to get them
to adopt environmentally-friendly sourcing
practices. The focus is at the enterprise
level, working within an existing market –
within existing systems.
The systems
approach:
Criterion
Institute believes, however, that if we work to
intentionally shape markets, the cumulative
effect of markets geared toward producing
positive social and environmental results and
enterprises working through those markets will
be greater than either working
independently.
Background,
initiatives and dialogues:
Read
more about why
Criterion Institute is specially equipped to
shape markets for social change, our current
initiatives to shape markets for social
change, and dialogues
we are convening between academics and
practitioners on shaping markets for social
change.
