Doing Good through Business in 2023


Have you ever looked at satellite pictures of the Earth at night? The lights are concentrated in places where trade is easier, like ocean ports and highways. But geography isn’t the whole story. Take North and South Korea for example. They have similar cultures, people, and geography. However, their political and economic systems are very …
Entrepreneurship has an impact that goes far beyond business itself. In this episode of The Good Society series, you’ll meet Dato Kim Tan, the entrepreneur behind Kuzuko Lodge, an ecotourism resort that has brought new life to a community and rehabilitated its land. Through his efforts, Kuzuko Lodge has created jobs, become a leader in …
What is an entrepreneur? How does the journey to creating your own business begin? Are there certain qualities that help entrepreneurs bring their dreams into reality? And how does this all connect to human flourishing? In this episode of The Good Society series, successful entrepreneurs, economists, and business professors share both their insights and their …
A Colorado ski maker demonstrates how risk-taking entrepreneurs and investors help build businesses, stability, and opportunity in the communities in which they live and work. *** Volume 1 of The Good Society is a 6-part series that that focuses on the intersection between the human person and economics and explores themes of work and creativity, …
Engage the Speaker Session for “Theology of Work” (AU2021). Original Lecture description below. In this session, we will explore the biblical and theological foundations for how we view our work in God’s economy. We will argue that work has intrinsic value and nobility because of its connection to the dominion mandate in Genesis and how …
Engage the Speaker Session for “The Fire of Invention: Intellectual Property and the Power of Human Beings” (AU2021). Original Lecture description below. In the realm of invention and technology, what makes the difference between good and evil, prosperity and destruction, is not the material world itself but the way in which humans exercise our rational, …
Public policy often shapes markets—for good or for ill. Today many are convinced that much of economic progress is attributable to the raw innovation of the private sector in a free market economy. Others claim an entrepreneurial state is essential to an innovative economy. What are we to make of state-private sector collaboration? Is it …
Milton Friedman famously argued that the sole social responsibility of business was to create value for shareholders. This view was the predominant view for decades. In 2019, the Business Roundtable made headlines, by adopting a stakeholder capitalism model, which calls on businesses to look beyond profit maximization, and to consider other business constituents, such as …
An educated citizenry is fundamental to securing a free and flourishing society. Innovation, technology, and entrepreneurial endeavors are transforming education in many ways. This panel examines common myths about learning and the provision of education, highlights the great entrepreneurial efforts to improve its quality and accessibility, and explores what the future holds in providing an …
For decades, the race to space was the domain of the state. Today space is rapidly becoming commercialized, opening vast opportunities for entrepreneurs. The commercialization of space also brings challenges. This panel celebrates the role of the new space entrepreneurs and discusses the legal and philosophical principles which should underlie humanity’s shift from space exploration …
Entertainment is an important indicator of cultural values; by looking at what the culture loves, one can deduce what principles it values. However, according to Henrique Viana, Felipe Valerin, and Lucas Ferrugem, Founders of Brasil Paralelo, entertainment can also shape a society’s culture. At Brasil Paralelo, they are working change prevailing cultural winds and point …
The EasyTaxi app was founded by Tallis Gomes, has expanded to 35 countries in four continents, and now has merged with Cabify. He was featured in the Forbes “30 Under 30” list and has been elected as one of the most innovative youths in the world. Unfortunately, Brazil faces a challenge in reducing bureaucracy. In …
Africa faces many challenges, such as COVID-19, lack of vaccines, and the rise of China and its influences. However, one of the biggest opportunities in Africa is the chance to craft solutions locally. There are brilliant minds in Africa, and the biggest challenge is engaging them to solve problems in Africa. Similarly, the young population …
In the realm of invention and technology, what makes the difference between good and evil, prosperity and destruction, is not the material world itself but the way in which humans exercise our rational, creative powers. The Creator empowers his image-bearers to partner with Him to bring order out of chaos and prosperity out of poverty …
The Acton Institute’s PovertyCure series included supplementary “Voice Videos” with renowned scholars, business people, and non-profit leaders. One of these Voice Videos featured Andreas Widmer. Join Michael Matheson Miller as he conducts a follow-on interview with Andreas Widmer to gain greater insights from his expertise.
This panel on “Poverty and Human Agency” features a conversation with Marlo Fox, Executive Director of Think Tank Inc., and Maurico Miller, Executive Director of the Community Independence Initiative. We explore questions of the nature of poverty and the necessity of placing human agency at the center of thinking about solutions to poverty. The importance …
In fields like hair braiding and flower arranging, occupational licensing requirements frequently stand in the way of people seeking to serve others and advance their station in life. In this session, Shoshana Weissmann (R Street Institute) and Isis Brantley (activist and founder of Institute of Ancestral Braiding) will discuss the problem of unreasonable occupational licensing …
These key leaders will discuss universal and timeless leadership principles for challenging times. When you view people as the ultimate resource, new opportunities will open up for you and your business. These leaders will address principles such as bottom-up solution, empowering overlooked people, and working together.
Milton Friedman famously argued that the sole social responsibility of business was to create value for shareholders. This view was the predominant view for decades. In 2019, the Business Roundtable made headlines, by adopting a stakeholder capitalism model, which calls on businesses to look beyond profit maximization, and to consider other business constituents, such as …
Can success be paired with intentional and ethical leadership? John Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods, shares how to develop yourself as a become a better leader. He and Acton President Fr. Robert Sirico will discuss the principles of conscious leadership, how to create a thriving culture within your business, and advice for businesspeople …
In 2019, Ezequiel Vazquez-Ger’s restaurant, Seven Reasons, was named the best restaurant in the Americas by Esquire. Hear the story of how he entered the restaurant business. He grew his business and even opened a second restaurant during the pandemic. Leaders in every industry can learn from his story of creativity, passion, and adaptation.
As Christians, we are called to treat the poor with compassion. One revolution in this field is social impact investing, which involves using businesses to address poverty and other issues. In this lecture, Dr. Tan discusses examples of how he has used social impact investing to do well while also doing good in the world.
In this session, we will explore the biblical and theological foundations for how we view our work in God’s economy. We will argue that work has intrinsic value and nobility because of its connection to the dominion mandate in Genesis and how the NT describes work as part of someone’s service to Christ. We will …
In this session, we will explore the biblical and theological foundations for how we view our work in God’s economy. We will argue that work has intrinsic value and nobility because of its connection to the dominion mandate in Genesis and how the NT describes work as part of someone’s service to Christ. We will …
Who benefits from ride-sharing services like Uber? Certainly the drivers and riders benefit. But are there benefits that accrue to society more generally when such smart-phone driven services enter a city for the first time? And how much government oversight is necessary to protect riders? The talk will comment on how these findings apply in …