Santa Clara University

As interest grows in the possibility of addressing poverty by business activity at "the bottom of the pyramid," social entrepreneurs confront a set of ethical questions about marketing to these impoverished market segments. 

Center Visiting Scholar Nicholas Santos, SJ, provided a framework for looking at this issue in a presentation last week with SCU Professor of Management Dennis Moberg.  Here is his list of promises and threats:

Promise of inclusive capitalism

• Including those kept at the periphery of development
• Increase in employment opportunities
• Better standard of living

Threat of increased exploitation

• Unconscionable labor practices
• Predatory lending
• Tainted insurance
• Exorbitant rent-to-own transactions
• Vulnerabilities of the BoP consumers
• Desire of BoP consumers for better quality products and improved quality of life