scholarly journals Poverty, Business Strategy, and Sustainable Development

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Hart ◽  
Sanjay Sharma ◽  
Minna Halme
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Investment Funds ◽  
Impact Investing ◽  
Bottom Of Pyramid ◽  
New Business ◽  
Inclusive Business

The past 15 years have witnessed an exponential growth in business activities aimed at serving the needs and increasing the well-being of disenfranchised individuals in low-income communities. Thousands of new business initiatives, development institution programs, and innovative investment funds focused on poverty alleviation have emerged during this time. Similarly, since the late 1990s when Prahalad and Hart first coined the term Bottom of Pyramid (BoP), and suggested a new, enterprise-based approach to poverty alleviation, there has also been a steady rise in research on business and poverty. A whole new lexicon emerged to describe this phenomenon, including phrases like “inclusive business,” “subsistence market places,” “frugal innovation,” and “impact investing.” Unfortunately, management theory and research have not advanced at the same pace with the BoP business revolution, and consequently knowledge about parameters for successfully integrating business, poverty alleviation and sustainable development still remains ambiguous.

Serving the low-income consumer in a rich economy: Dollar General racks up sales

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glyn Atwal ◽  
Douglas Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose The conceptualization of the Base of Pyramid (BOP) proposes that low-income markets can lead to profitable opportunities for businesses. The purpose of this study is to identify key success factors of a BOP business strategy based on a case study of the discount retailer, Dollar General, in the USA. Design/methodology/approach The research design used in this research is an in-depth case study of Dollar General in the USA. Qualitative methods are applied in both the primary and secondary data collection and during the follow-on data analysis of Dollar General. Findings Dollar General’s strategic profile is achieved through the combination of the following four actions which are tailored to compete effectively at the BOP in the USA: creating the neighborhood discounter, raising aspirational appeal, reducing service and eliminating internationalization. Research limitations/implications The case is specific to Dollar General in a US cultural context. Practical implications The case of Dollar General demonstrates how a discounter retailer should not only follow a low-cost strategy to compete at the BOP. Its ability to craft a distinctive strategy is coherent with meeting the logistical, rational and emotional needs of the low-income consumer in the USA. Social implications Many businesses have neglected rural areas of the USA as being unprofitable. The ability for businesses such as Dollar General to serve the BOP segment can foster the socio-economic well-being of communities. Originality/value The overwhelming body of the BOP literature is based on emerging markets. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few studies to investigate BOP business strategy in the USA.

O Ilê Axé Nagô Oxaguiã: um Terreiro de Candomblé e Jurema no sertão (Semiárido) da Região Nordeste do Brasil.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira Junior
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Assistance ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Well Being ◽  
African Culture ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
De Se ◽  
The City ◽  
Traditional Communities

Sinopse:Desde 2010 o Ilê Axé Nagô Ôxáguiã encontra-se em atividade na cidade de Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, trazendo consigo segmento de Candomblé da nação Nagô e o segmento da Jurema.No ano de 2016, o Ilê Axé Nagô Ôxáguiã, através de seu representante, Pai Aderbal, passa a integrar o Conselho do Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Território da Cidadania do Seridó, compondo a Câmara de Comunidades Tradicionais; que agrega representantes de comunidades quilombolas, Ordem do Rosário, Casas de Candomblé.O Candomblé de Pai Aderbal está sendo visto como instituição de referência para a academia (alguns projetos acontecem em parceria com a UFRN), para a Secretaria de Saúde e Assistência Social. Houve o reconhecimento deste terreiro como local de referência de bem-estar para pessoas de baixa renda (em maior número). Na atualidade, o terreiro avança no sentido de se tornar legal juridicamente. É o primeiro passo em sua afirmação política e social enquanto instituição que agrega valores da cultura africana e ameríndia na região do Seridó.sinopsis:Since 2010, Ilê Axé Nagô Ôxáguiã is active in the city of Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, bringing with it segment of Candomblé of Nagô nation and the segment of Jurema.In 2016, Ilê Axé Nagô Ôxáguiã, through its representative, Father Aderbal, becomes part of the Sustainable Development Council of the Seridó Citizenship Territory, composing the Chamber of Traditional Communities; Which includes representatives of quilombola communities, Ordem do Rosário, Casas de Candomblé.The Candomblé of Pai Aderbal is being seen as a reference institution for the academy (some projects happen in partnership with UFRN), for the Secretariat of Health and Social Assistance. There was recognition of this terreiro as a place of reference of well-being for people of low income (in greater number). At present, the terreiro advances in the sense of becoming juridically legal. It is the first step in its political and social affirmation as an institution that adds values of the African culture in the region of Seridó.Palabras-chave:Candomblé, Jurema, Caicó.KeyWords: Candomblé, Jurema, Caicó.Ficha técnica:Autora:Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira JuniorFotografias: Acervo do Autor: Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira JuniorDireção, Edição de Imagem e Texto: Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira JuniorFicha técnica:Autora:Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira JuniorFotografía:Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira JuniorDirección:Geraldo Barboza de Oliveira Junior

De-Growth and Sustainable Development: Rethinking Human Rights Law and Poverty Alleviation

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 647-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter Vandenhole
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Ecological Economics ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Human Rights Law

Abstract In strong definitions, sustainable development has been argued to imply the prevalence of the environmental dimension over the economic one. The prioritization of the environmental (planet) and (arguably also the) social (people) pillar over the economic (profit) one may require a rather radical departure from assumptions of economic growth, including zero-growth or even de-growth, as argued in post-growth or ecological economics. This article asks the “what if” question. What if unorthodox, ecological economics got it right that post-growth or growth agnosticism is the new economic norm? What are the implications for human rights law and for the field of human rights and development? How could poverty alleviation look like in a growth agnostic scenario? The objective of this article is to draw out in an exploratory way some of the implications of strong definitions of sustainable development for human rights law and its relevance for development. At first, this intellectual exercise may look irrelevant or even cynical in the context of Africa, where more than 40% of the population, more than 300 million people, live in poverty. However, I see two major reasons for also debating in an African context the implications of growth agnosticism for human rights law. First, economic growth does not necessarily lead to economic development, let alone human development, and has typically come at a huge environmental cost. Alternative approaches that focus more directly on human well-being and ecological sustainability may help avoid a simple mimicking of the historical development of the global North. Second, ecological economics shifts the attention from growth to redistribution. The latter is a key challenge within Africa and within African countries, as well as from a global perspective. I examine how to factor in the consequences of post-growth or doughnut economics in the conceptual analysis of socio-economic human rights, and in the role of human rights law in development (cooperation), globally and nationally. In particular, I will try and set a research agenda on two issues that require further examination: the redefinition of obligations of international assistance and cooperation in human rights law and the reconceptualization of equality towards redistributive equality in human rights-based development cooperation interventions.

Local disposition to environmental protection, poverty alleviation and other issues in the sustainable development agenda in Ondo State, Nigeria

Human Affairs ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Olumekun ◽  
Emmanuel Ige
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Global Action ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Ondo State ◽  
The Third World

AbstractSustainable development is the global agenda designed to ensure that the world’s climate is not irretrievably damaged and future generations have equal access to the world’s resources for their own development. The institutionalisation of measures to promote sustainable development has however not had unanimous cooperation. This study therefore investigated the attitude of officials at the local government level to topical issues in the sustainable development agenda in Ondo State, Nigeria, as a pointer to entrenched attitudes in the Third World. Prioritisation of issues varied between localities but premium was placed on poverty alleviation more than on climate change or power generation. People were more concerned with the improvement of their general well-being including health. Respondents indicated that most of the topical issues on the sustainable development agenda could be addressed at the local level thereby lending support for the notion that local action can contribute to global action. However, inclusive measures to promote positive action need to be institutionalised.

Problems Facing the Arab Pharmaceutical Industry: A Case Study from Yemen

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 234-241
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-Shakka ◽  
Ebtesam Abood ◽  
Adel Al-Dhubhany ◽  
Sami Abdo Radman Aldubai ◽  
Khaled Said ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Domestic Market ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Pharmaceutical Drugs

Because of the almost-instant connection with the welfare and well-being of individuals, pharmaceutical industry stands prominently as a very important factor for the improvement and progress of a healthy productive nation. These days, pharmaceutical industry thrives as one of the largest and exponentially expanding global industries. Nonetheless, millions of people in low income developing countries, have to suffer from the fatal consequences of the inaccessibility and non-availability of essential drugs. This is also happening in Yemen, where the pharmaceutical manufacturers sector have to face up to many challenges. The Yemen Drug Company (YEDCO) was founded in 1964 by the Yemeni government as it collaborated with private investors. It was endorsed as a company with the expertise in the medicinal drug marketing. YEDCO started its work by taking in drugs from foreign companies and then locally marketing and distributing them. In 1982, YEDCO built the first medicinal factory for drugs in Sana’a. Since then, seven companies were set up to manufacture medicines in Yemen. The expanding population has led to the need to have more pharmaceutical products. It may be understandable that pharmaceutical manufacturer companies are also hit by the political crisis in the country. Inadequate amount of fuel and raw material as well as low security status were some of the underlying factors behind these ill-effects in Yemen. Imported drugs make up about nearly 90% % of the pharmaceutical market compared to 10% drugs from the domestic market. This situation has led to an additional burden being shouldered by the national economy, where Yemen spends about US$263 million annually on pharmaceutical drugs, in reference to the national Supreme Drugs Authority. Although there is a very quick growth in the population and drugs consumption, the pharmaceutical industry has not been very active, where global pharmaceutical products play their role dominantly on the domestic market. The pharmaceutical production necessitates skilled human resources like university graduates. By contrast, the government and the private sector should also motivate the pharmaceutical industry and make use of the local employment

Eating NAFTA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyshia Gálvez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The North ◽  
The World

In the two decades since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, Mexico has seen an epidemic of diet-related illness. While globalization has been associated with an increase in chronic disease around the world, in Mexico, the speed and scope of the rise has been called a public health emergency. The shift in Mexican foodways is happening at a moment when the country’s ancestral cuisine is now more popular and appreciated around the world than ever. What does it mean for their health and well-being when many Mexicans eat fewer tortillas and more instant noodles, while global elites demand tacos made with handmade corn tortillas? This book examines the transformation of the Mexican food system since NAFTA and how it has made it harder for people to eat as they once did. The book contextualizes NAFTA within Mexico’s approach to economic development since the Revolution, noticing the role envisioned for rural and low-income people in the path to modernization. Examination of anti-poverty and public health policies in Mexico reveal how it has become easier for people to consume processed foods and beverages, even when to do so can be harmful to health. The book critiques Mexico’s strategy for addressing the public health crisis generated by rising rates of chronic disease for blaming the dietary habits of those whose lives have been upended by the economic and political shifts of NAFTA.

Living on a low income as a systemic impediment to socio-economic development of Ukraine

2020 ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
NATALIIA TOLSTYKH
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Human Potential ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The Government

The article sheds light on various approaches that seek to determine how widespread poverty and life on a low income are in Ukraine nowadays. As a social phenomenon, poverty has traditionally been associated with destitution and living below the subsistence level set by the government. However, the author holds the view that life on a low income not only means living near or below the poverty line. There is another part of Ukraine’s population that should also be considered needy — those whose income is less than twice as the subsistence level, and most of them are also subject to socio-economic deprivation. Drawing upon the findings of a social survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine in 2019, the paper analyses the standard of living among different income groups. Particular attention is given to consumption patterns and social well-being of respondents in the lower income brackets. From the data, it can be inferred that living conditions of many Ukrainians are inadequate to sustain and develop human potential; furthermore, the low-income households have literally to struggle every day to make ends meet. The author brings into focus the main macroeconomic factors contributing to this situation and its adverse effect on the nation’s social potential. Some of the most common social consequences of living on a low income have been identified, such as limited consumption, a person’s dissatisfaction with life and his/her position in society. The above-mentioned survey also provides the estimates of how much the current subsistence level (with regard to Ukraine) should be. Having been made by different socio-demographic and occupational groups of Ukraine’s population, these estimates are a useful source of information — given that subsistence level is considered the basic social standard. According to the survey, all these figures are at variance with the official subsistence level, which is noticeably lower, and this indicates that the current subsistence level needs an upward revision. Today, the overall socio-economic situation in Ukraine is unfavourable for neoliberal economic reforms initiated by the government. Since these policies are primarily designed to reduce the role of state in managing the economy and implementing social welfare programmes, following this path will inevitably result in the entrenchment of mass poverty and in a major loss of Ukraine’s human potential, as well as labour force. The author argues that tackling the country’s chronic low income problem is only possible if a new strategy for socio-economic development is adopted, where social welfare is prioritised.

Poverty alleviation and social investment funds

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Glaessner ◽  
Kye Woo Lee ◽  
Anna Maria Sant'Anna ◽  
Jean-Jacques de St. Antoine
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Social Investment ◽  
Investment Funds

A descriptive study of the prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders in the Canadian population: comparison between low-income and non-low-income populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Caron ◽  
A. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
High Psychological Distress

Objective This descriptive study compares rates of high psychological distress and mental disorders between low-income and non-low-income populations in Canada. Methods Data were collected through the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Well-being (CCHS 1.2), which surveyed 36 984 Canadians aged 15 or over; 17.9% (n = 6620) was classified within the low-income population using the Low Income Measure. The K-10 was used to measure psychological distress and the CIDI for assessing mental disorders. Results One out of 5 Canadians reported high psychological distress, and 1 out of 10 reported at least one of the five mental disorders surveyed or substance abuse. Women, single, separated or divorced respondents, non-immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians were more likely to report suffering from psychological distress or from mental disorders and substance abuse. Rates of reported psychological distress and of mental disorders and substance abuse were much higher in low-income populations, and these differences were statistically consistent in most of the sociodemographic strata. Conclusion This study helps determine the vulnerable groups in mental health for which prevention and promotion programs could be designed.

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