10.18.07

Blogs: Adding value to social capital conversations

Posted in information hubs, transparency at 6:44 pm by Andrea McGrath

Sean Stannard Stockton - principal of the blog Tactical Philanthropy and a new member of the blog team at SSIR (see the full team here) - posted an interesting note on his recent conversation with Paul Brest of the Hewlett Foundation and why Paul should start a blog (Sean builds on Paul’s argument for an information marketplace on social impact data). The common thread among both of these authors is discussing the value of “marketplaces” for information. As Sean states: “marketplaces are not just a collection of transactions but a “swarm” of interpersonal interaction between people (see xigi). Financial markets are virtual – but no less human… this transition (to virtual markets) does not JUST require data but conversations”.  He argues that conversations are the key to growth in philanthropy, and we feel conversations are just as important to the growth in many types of social capital – as well as to the development of social capital market infrastructure (story behind the xchangexchange). He also makes the point that it essential for funders to join in the dialogue – and we agree (see the full post here)    

 

10.17.07

Kenyan exchange brings transparency

Posted in Uncategorized, transparency at 7:01 pm by kevindjones

This link from my fellow researcher Andrea McGrath shows how even a traditional stock exchange is becoming a force for political and societal and economic transparency in Kenya. One overheard anecdote from the fellow from the Kenyan Social Stock Exchange delivered at the recent Belagio conference goes like this: “What is a socially responsible business in your context?” The response from the Kenyan SSE “A business that does not shoot its employees.” A powerful and good tool in a local context, the existing exchange and the prospect of a social stock exchange bring new possibilities.