SOCIAL VALUE INVESTING: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships by Howard W. Buffet and William B. Eimicke focuses on social value aspect of inclusive and effective public policies, the benefits of partnerships between governments and corporations and philanthropists, the evolution of cross-sector partnerships, and blending capital for social good. The book highlights many aspects of social value investing with examples from different countries both in the West and in the East: ‘The Process Case: The Digital Revolution and Telemedicine in India’, ‘The People Case: Improving Big City Life Through Urban Parks’, ‘The Place Case: Economic Stability in Afghanistan’, The Portfolio Case: Increasing Government Effectiveness and Accountability in Brazil’, ‘The Cautionary Case: The Risks of Large-Scale Partnerships and the Rio Olympics’.
SOCIAL STOCK EXCHANGE:
In a foreword of the book, Lakshmi Narayana, founder of EquiPPP Fooundation, mentions ‘this book to the respective stakeholders in India who are playing vital role in social space. The latest government’s initiative in India also highlights the need for a Social Stock Exchange that takes social entrepreneurship to the next level’.
MESSAGE OF OPTIMISM AND ACTION:
The book could be useful for academicians, policy makers, social activists, philanthropists and public sector administrators, and students. The book also has a message from Warren E. Buffet. He notes, “Every year, groups from forty colleges and universities with me in Omaha to talk about the world they will inherit and improve. My message is consistent: Despite the difficulties we face, I am confident that their grandchildren will live in a world with far greater abundance than we have today. After we talk, I always come away feeling even more optimistic about the future.
“For students like these, this book will be a helpful resource. It is grounded in a well-researched and tested approach, which will serve as a framework for partnership building. As you learn from the strategies pursued in these stories, you’ll discover just why I’m so hopeful about the future. You will enjoy this book, and I’ll bet you will be inspired, too, by its message of optimism and action.”
DIGITAL INDIA:
In a chapter titled ‘The Process Case: The Digital Revolution and Telemedicine in India’ written by William B. Eimicke’ takes the reader into India’s digital revolution. India has more than 1.3 billion residents. The author mentions, “Building on the groundwork developed by his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Modi (the incumbent Prime Minister of India) developed Digital India, founded on the Aadhaar ID, through which India can deliver an ever-expanding portfolio of complementary services over time—income subsidies for heating and cooking gas, records and record-keeping through DigiLocker, health care through telemedicine, and more to come. Key ingredients of the social value investing framework run consistently throughout the Digital India case. For example, the partnership has a long-term investment strategy—building the country’s broadband network and local services centers, and connecting all citizens to it through Aadhaar.”
CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK:
Today’s Central Park in New York City is not what it was in earlier centuries. Spread over 843 acres, 2.5 miles long and half a mile wide, the Central Park in the city of skyscrapers was designed in 1858 by Frederick Law Olmsted. A chapter in the book ‘The People Case: Improving Big City life Through Urban Parks’ written by Willim B. Eimicke mentions its evolution by the participation of local government and community activism for the betterment of the local residents and those who care for social value investing.
The book is published by Columbia University Press, 2018. Howard W. Buffest is an adjunct associate professor and research scholar at Colombia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. William B. Eimicke is a professor of practice and the founding director of the Picker Center for Executive Education at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.