Taught by Sourav Mukherji

According to World Bank Development Indicators (2008), close to half of the world's population, over three billion people, live on less than US$ 2.50 per day and about 1.4 billion on less than US$1.25 per day.  In this course students will debate and discuss whether business enterprises can address the needs of the "base of the pyramid" in a financially sustainable manner, as a for-profit business. By analyzing a series of real life case studies of such inclusive businesses, as well as by listening to social entrepreneurs who are running inclusive businesses, the course will reveal the various challenges that are embedded within such business models and some of the creative means by which social entrepreneurs have dealt with such challenges, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.

Course Date & Time

September 3-December 15, 2015 (There will be a total of 20 class meetings; no class on October 22-23 or November 26–27, and other weeks or days off are tbd)
Class meeting times: Thursdays and Fridays, 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. EST (New Haven time, please note that the course will be taught one hour later after the clocks change in the US on November 1)