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Our Modest Proposal

The bosses of the world’s biggest companies should each give a year’s salary to support social entrepreneurship and a better use of resources in the social sector during this time of economic crisis. This collective act of contrition and generosity would demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of society at a time when, with jobs […]

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Bah humbug?

The story of Mr Scrooge in Dickens’ Christmas Carol reminds us that the festive season is a time to think about more than the giving of presents to friends and family. This was a theme that Nick Kristof picked up in an article in the New York Times on Saturday, where he called on liberals […]

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Attacking Gates

A chapter dedicated to the Gates Foundation’s work on tackling diseases in the developing world, in a new report called Global Health Watch 2, brings together most of the main criticisms of the foundation. It provides a useful checklist of what some in the global health community have against the world’s leading philanthrocapitalist. So here […]

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Ringing a Bell

The Nasdaq stockmarket honoured the book yesterday by inviting Matthew to ring the closing bell. It was great to see “Philanthrocapitalism” up in lights in Times Square! Oddly, this did not prevent the Nasdaq index falling. Nasdaq has played an important role in philanthrocapitalism, by hosting the initial public offerings of several companies whose leaders […]

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Mr Philanthrocapitalism Goes to Washington

Wednesday was a big day for philanthrocapitalism in Washington DC. Bill Gates delivered an impassioned speech, highlighting the growing success of his foundation in driving change in America’s schools and improving global public health. He urged politicians to do all they can to build on this success, including by working even more effectively in partnership […]

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World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day. The increasingly successful, though still far from won, fight against HIV/Aids is a battle that has seen philanthrocapitalism at its most effective. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has delivered considerable resources and used its public voice to drive a wide range of initiatives, including working with Bono’s campaigning and […]

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The Gates “cut”

So the financial market meltdown is hurting even the Gates Foundation. In an announcement on November 21st, Jeff Raikes, the Foundation’s CFO, said that it would not be increasing giving in 2009 by as much as it had planned. The good news is that it still plans to give away 10% more in 2009 than […]

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The Spectator on Philanthrocapitalism

“Whether you’re feeling sceptical or charitable about their subject-matter, Bishop’s and Green’s book is the best overview so far of the new spirit of philanthropy” writes Linsey McGoey, a sociologist at the University of Oxford, in her review of the book in this week’s Spectator magazine.   Linsey does, however, take us to task over […]

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What is the business of business?

On Sunday, The Economist hosted a debate in New York on the motion, “The business of business is business.” For the motion, Clive Crook, of the Financial Times and the Atlantic, and Will Wilkinson, of the Cato Institute, argued that this simple rule is a necessary “constitution” for business, to ensure that its managers can […]

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Welcome

Welcome to Philanthrocapitalism week! As world leaders and corporate chiefs descend on New York, this is going to be a big week for philanthrocapitalism – not just because our book will finally be launched on the 30 September. Today, 120 of the world’s leading thinkers began three days of deliberation on global challenges such as […]