It’s difficult to look at the Indian Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Novartis’s attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivecissue in an objective manner – the opinion on the one hand is that big pharma cares only of profits, and not for the common man; the counter view is that without IP protection especially with drugs that are patent-protected, drugs companies have little incentive to innovate.
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A major new research report by the Henry Jackson Society, a cross-partisan British think-tank, says that Hindus are under-represented in the media. The report “Faith in the Public Sphere” assessed the impact of faith communities on public life by analysing all articles in three major newspapers from across the political spectrum.
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One big policy change may change the super-rich’s attitude to giving. And in typical Indian fashion, carrots don’t workg; so the government has resorted to a stick. The new Companies Bill in Parliament includes a provision for companies with a turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore, value of Rs 500 crore and average net profit of Rs 5 crore in the preceding three years, have to give 2 per cent of their net profit to charitable activities..
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India’s wealthiest citizens may be rising forces in the new world, but their charitable giving is lagging behind. Sophie McBain from Spears Magazine looks at the measured being taken to end this subcontinental drift. It features an interview with Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG Economic and Strategy Consulting, on motivating factors for philanthropy for India’s super-rich.
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Social accounting and SROI are two common approaches to measuring impact. On the spectrum of qualitative and quantitative approaches, SROI counts among the most quantitative. It is qualitative approaches, however, that are often more intuitive and easier to understand. Understanding what the objectives for measurement are, and therefore what approaches to measure may be suitable, is important to successfully measuring an organisation’s impact.
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After the reduction in Reserve Bank of India repo rates in 2001, India’s property market at first grew slowly, and then boomed. But it took until 2005 for average house prices to reach their previous peak of 1996. The next chapter in real estate’s growth, however, needs to address some significant challenges. Due to the lack of regulations and effective policies, and lack of clarity on some land titles makes investors – particularly foreign investors – nervous.
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The social enterprise landscape in Pakistan is nascent but fast-growing. From diverse sectors ranging from dairy farms to educational hubs to micro drip irrigation, early-stage enterprises have the potential of achieving hybrid financial return and social impact. Crucially, they are attracting interest from impact investors and business angels alike. But how can these entrepreneurs be better financed, nurtured and trained?
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EPG launched a report entitled ‘Social Enterprise in Pakistan: Unlocking Innovation Through Enterprise Incubation’ at Allen & Overy in London this morning. The event was attended by over 100 policy makers, social entrepreneurs, educational heads and investors. The report says business schools in Pakistan can offer huge growth potential in delivering hybrid financial return and social impact to investors, and help create a sustainable ecosystem for social entrepreneurs. The report was launched at Allen & Overy in London this morning, and was attended by over 100 policy makers, social entrepreneurs, educational heads and investors.
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This is a breakthrough report that, for the first time, provides a macro perspective to the business education sector in Pakistan and how incubator hubs could harness the potential of young entrepreneurs. It is being launched at Allen & Overy on Thursday 07 February 2013 at a breakfast seminar attended by senior Pakistani public policy officials, venture capital and impact investors, foundations and philanthropists, as well as UK and South Asian media.
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India paid Rs 81,000 crore (US$18 billion) in fuel subsidies for year 2010-11, with the majority made up of under-recovery of revenues from government and upstream oil companies. In 2011-12, the combined level of subsidies to fuel, fertilizer and food increased by nearly 27%. India must reduce its fiscal deficit by cutting the hugely inefficient fuel subsidies.
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