Chapter 1
Introduction: Persistent Societal Challenges
Societal problems like poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation have persisted for
centuries, with minimal net progress. Efforts to address these issues have alternated
between reliance on the private sector (market-driven solutions) and the public sector
(government intervention), but neither has consistently succeeded. Both sectors have
inherent limitations:
1. Private Sector Failures:
○ Market Failures: Adam Smith’s notion of the "invisible hand," suggesting that
free markets self-correct for societal benefit, often fails in practice. Examples
include:
■ Lack of incentives for developers to build low-income housing.
■ Redlining: Banks avoiding investment in neighborhoods deemed
risky.
■ Hunger persisting globally despite food surpluses.
■ Environmental degradation caused by unchecked industrial pursuits.
○ Markets create and perpetuate these issues due to their focus on profit,
lacking incentives to resolve systemic problems.
2. Public Sector Limitations:
○ Governments are tasked with societal welfare but often fail due to:
■ Limited resources.
■ Political constraints, such as short election cycles, term limits, and
ideological conflicts.
○ Milich (2001), Putnam (2001), and Weiss & Gilani (2001) document the
breakdown of civil society, exacerbating polarization and reducing
collaborative problem-solving.
○ Authoritarian governments face corruption and lack checks on power, often
leading to violent regime changes and instability.
The Role of Social Entrepreneurship
If traditional institutions fail to address societal problems, social entrepreneurship emerges
as a viable alternative. Social entrepreneurs bridge the gap between the private and public
sectors, combining their strengths while addressing their limitations.
Why Social Entrepreneurship is Thriving Now
David Bornstein (2007) identifies key global transformations that have enabled social
entrepreneurship to flourish:
1. Increased Global Prosperity:
, ○ Growth of the middle class and wealth creates financial resources for social
ventures.
2. Democratization:
○ The rise of democratic and semi-democratic societies empowers individuals
to tackle societal challenges independently.
3. Technological Advancements:
○ Widespread access to information heightens awareness of global issues and
inspires action.
4. Expanded Education:
○ Greater access to formal education, particularly higher education, enhances
awareness and resources for societal engagement.
5. Inclusion of Marginalized Groups:
○ Barriers to participation for women and subjugated groups are diminishing,
allowing broader societal involvement.
These factors enable individuals to address social and environmental challenges with
greater freedom, confidence, and resources.
The Unique Attributes of Social Entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship blends the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector with the public
sector’s focus on societal welfare, but it also introduces distinctive qualities that set it apart:
1. Passionate and Value-Driven:
○ Social entrepreneurs are driven by moral values and empathy rather than
political expediency (as in government) or profit motives (as in business).
○ Dees (1998) emphasizes their mission to place public interest above private
gain.
○ Passion is deeply personal, stemming from lived experiences or moral
convictions, as noted by Mair & Noboa (2006).
2. Agile and Non-Bureaucratic:
○ Unlike governments and corporations constrained by regulations, social
ventures are nimble and can quickly adapt to changing conditions.
○ Entrepreneurs exploit "windows of opportunity" to address issues effectively,
aligning solutions with time-sensitive challenges.
3. Focused on Transformation:
○ Social entrepreneurship prioritizes systemic change rather than temporary
fixes. For example:
■ Feeding the hungry addresses an immediate need but does not
resolve the underlying causes of hunger.
■ Social ventures aim to transform systems that perpetuate societal
problems.
, 4. Building Social Capital:
○ Networking and collaboration are central to social entrepreneurship.
Brandenburger & Nalebuff (1997) highlight the concept of "co-opetition,"
where competitors often collaborate for mutual benefit.
○ Trust-based networks enable resource sharing and effective communication,
contrasting with the adversarial dynamics of politics and business.
5. Mission-Driven:
○ The core mission of social entrepreneurship is societal or environmental
impact, guiding all actions and decisions.
○ Even for-profit social ventures prioritize mission over revenue, ensuring
alignment with public good rather than shareholder interests.
6. Accountability to Society:
○ Social ventures are transparent and accountable to the communities they
serve, unlike corporations prioritizing shareholder profits.
○ For example, the BP oil spill (2010) highlighted how profit-driven
decision-making can harm societal interests. Social entrepreneurship avoids
this misalignment by aligning goals with societal needs.
7. Promoting Innovation:
○ Social ventures foster creativity and innovation to solve challenges. Unlike
commercial innovations judged by market potential, social innovations are
valued for their problem-solving capacity.
○ Social entrepreneurship welcomes novel approaches to transformative
change.
8. Circumventing Political Gridlock:
○ By adopting a business-like approach, social ventures avoid the delays and
inefficiencies of political debates.
○ Social entrepreneurs often bridge divides, facilitating public-private
partnerships to address complex issues.
9. Fostering Equity and Stability:
○ Hamlin and Lyons (1996) identify equity and stability as prerequisites for
sustainable development.
○ Social entrepreneurship promotes these by addressing systemic inequities
and supporting stability through community development and disaster
recovery.
Examples and Models Relevant to Social Entrepreneurship
Several names and concepts discussed in this chapter illustrate the frameworks and
dynamics of social entrepreneurship:
, 1. Adam Smith:
○ His "invisible hand" concept is critiqued for failing to address systemic societal
problems, highlighting the need for interventions like social entrepreneurship.
2. Bornstein (2007):
○ His analysis of global transformations underscores the conditions enabling
the rise of social entrepreneurship.
3. Dees (1998):
○ A foundational thinker, Dees emphasizes the moral foundation of social
entrepreneurship and its alignment with societal interests over private gains.
4. Brandenburger & Nalebuff (1997):
○ Their "co-opetition" concept illustrates how social ventures combine
competition and collaboration for greater impact.
5. Hamlin and Lyons (1996):
○ Their framework links equity and stability to sustainable societal development,
areas where social entrepreneurs excel.
6. BP Oil Spill (2010):
○ This disaster exemplifies the pitfalls of prioritizing profits over societal welfare,
contrasting sharply with the ethos of social entrepreneurship.
Challenges and Opportunities
While social entrepreneurship offers a promising approach to societal problems, it faces
several challenges:
● Misaligned assumptions can lead to ineffective solutions, emphasizing the need for
thorough engagement with affected communities.
● The free-rider problem, where some benefit without contributing, requires
innovative funding and collaboration strategies.
Conclusion: Social Entrepreneurship as a Transformative Force
Social entrepreneurship addresses the gaps left by traditional public and private sectors. By
prioritizing systemic change, fostering innovation, and aligning actions with societal needs, it
offers a unique pathway to tackling persistent societal problems. Its distinctive attributes,
combined with evolving global conditions, make it a powerful tool for driving sustainable and
equitable development.
