Profits and alms: Cross‐sector partnerships for global poverty reduction

In: Public administration and development: the international journal of management research and practice, Band 31, Heft 1, S. 15-24

Abstract

AbstractA growing movement commends a targeted business‐oriented approach as the best chance to reduce global poverty. It offers the promise of dual returns—empowerment for the world's neediest citizens and earned income for investors in pro‐poor ventures at the same time. This appealing vision may underplay the importance of multi‐stakeholder collaboration to make it work. There is no unambiguous free‐standing business paradigm for helping the poor better themselves. A review of previously documented cases shows the market‐oriented approach can reach low‐income and socially excluded households, but the payoff usually depends on cross‐sector subsidies from non‐profit or government organizations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.