Congratulations, Muhammad Yunus
We cannot cope with the problem of poverty within the orthodoxy of capitalism preached and practiced today. With the failure of many Third World governments in running businesses, health, education, and welfare programs efficiently, everyone is quick to recommend: "Hand it over to the private sector." I endorse this recommendation wholeheartedly. But I raise a question with it. Which private sector are we talking about? Personal profit based private sector has its own clear agenda. It comes in serious conflict with the pro-poor, pro-women, pro-environment agenda.
Economic theory has not provided us with any alternative to this familiar private sector. I argue that we can create a powerful alternative: a social-consciousness-driven private sector, created by social entrepreneurs.
Muhammad Yunus
I "met" Dr. Yunus at a conference given by the Skoll Foundation.
Feeling excited and inspired to have once spoken with a Nobel Peace Prize winner.