PinnedYou’re a doctor, you can kill them“Why do you keep these animals alive?” asked the soviet minister visiting the orphanage at Torez in Ukraine. The story which came to me and I passed to my colleague in Ukraine, would give us both a sleepless night. “Words don’t come to mind, most of our team was crying…Ukraine7 min readUkraine7 min read
Aug 11, 2021The New Bottom Line: People Before ProfitIt was the description I used to introduce business for social purpose to the Long Term Capitalism challenge in 2013. — I was using the phrase to convey the point that "P-CED takes the bottom line past profit to people". The 'Marshall Plan' for Ukraine had expanded on this statement: 'An inherent assumption about capitalism is that profit is defined only in terms of monetary gain. This assumption is virtually unquestioned…People Centered Economy7 min readPeople Centered Economy7 min read
Feb 1, 2021Social Enterprise and Purpose“Please accept my resignation. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member” Groucho Marx Our problem was the converse, having joined a club that told me our work was beyond their focus. It was 2006 when I introduced our social #purpose business to…1 min read1 min read
Dec 16, 2020The People-Centered EconomyIt began with an argument that people and not maximisng shareholder value are the purpose of business: “At first glance, it might seem redundant to emphasize people as the central focus of business. After all, is not the sole purpose of business, as well as economics, people? In other words…People Centered Economy5 min readPeople Centered Economy5 min read
Dec 14, 2020Social Enterprise TypologyFrom a ‘Marshall Plan’ for Ukraine 2007: The following section is excerpted from “Social Enterprise Typology”, by Kim Alter, April 13, 2006. Excerpts are rearranged and edited for presentation in this document. Preliminary Definitions Embedded Social Enterprises — Social programs and business activities are one and the same.Non-profits create Embedded…Social Enterprise10 min readSocial Enterprise10 min read
Dec 14, 2020You’re a doctor, you can kill themA conversation online with a homeless man about ‘Ignorance and Want’ would be my introduction to business for purpose. In 2003, I invited him to London to set up as a social enterprise and by the end of 2004 he’d arrived in Ukraine. In ‘A Christmas Carol’ Scrooge is confronted…Purpose7 min readPurpose7 min read
Jun 8, 2020Community Wealth BuildingIn the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we face the task of rebuilding local economies. The Centre for Local Economic Studies, advocate a people-centred approach to regeneration: “Traditional economic development practice and developer-led regeneration are failing to address the economic challenges of our time. Community wealth building is a new…Purpose Driven Business2 min readPurpose Driven Business2 min read
Jun 8, 2020Building People-Centered EconomiesIn 2004, the introduction of People-Centered Economic Development to the UK was marked by an interview with founder Terry Hallman who described how he’d pitched his concept of business for social purpose to US President Bill Clinton who gave him the opportunity to source a proof of concept project in…Purpose Driven Business8 min readPurpose Driven Business8 min read
Oct 20, 2019Rabbi Lerner’s Marshall PlanIn November 2008 The Catholic Reporter described it. The plan, which Lerner created, has been introduced into Congress, and it will be re-introduced next year. Written by Lerner, and co-introduced by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), a Muslim, and co-sponsored by Rep. James P. Moran (D-VA), a Catholic, the plan has…Marshall Plan6 min readMarshall Plan6 min read
Oct 5, 2019Long Term CapitalismIn 2007, it was the threat of hijack that persuaded a pioneer of for-purpose business to publish a ‘Marshall Plan’ strategy online. It was a proposal for putting social purpose before shareholder value on a national scale: “This is a long-term permanently sustainable program, the basis for “people-centered” economic development…Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
