The Moral Marketplace

Enter the world of the social entrepreneur. A global community of doers, thinkers and leaders who mix business with grass-roots activism to make social change possible.

Vinod Kapur created a new breed of chicken that feeds some of the world’s poorest villagers. Betty Makoni empowers young women across Africa through her Girl Child Network. Stephen Burks connects developing world artisans with high fashion brands. They are but three.

In this book, author and activist Asheem Singh explores how a movement of tiny ventures evolved into a global humanitarian and financial juggernaut, revealing new ways to fight privilege and inequality, rewire philanthropy, government and even capitalism itself.

This is a guide to an exhilarating and inspiring world where, through our giving, campaigning and even through our choices as consumers, we can all play a crucial role in taking on the biggest social challenges of our time.

'Oxfam crisis exposes the failure of UK charity regulation' in The Guardian
'After Carillion, social enterprises must take charge of public services' in The Guardian
'Asheem Singh: millennials are mobilising for change' in Pioneers Post
'Exploring The Quiet Revolution of Mission Driven Millennials' in Probono Australia
'Mission-driven millennials: 15 minutes with Asheem Singh' in New Start
'8 Women Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing The World' on Transforming Society

"This engaging and thought provoking study into the ability for a marketplace to be moral is an excellent read for experts and novices alike." The Student

"The Moral Marketplace puts the hype around social entrepreneurship into a wider political and ethical context, providing a hopeful vision for turning enthusiasm into positive social action." David Floyd, Managing Director, Social Spider

"A remarkable book in dangerous times. Asheem Singh shows with brio, verve and wit, how civic and social activism is retaking its rightful place at the heart of all that is good about our world. He presents us with a carnivalesque cast of characters of dizzying variety and a book whose prescriptions should influence at the highest level. Singh is one of this generation's most exciting and accessible young thinkers." Phillip Blond, Director, ResPublica and author of 'Red Tory'

"The Moral Marketplace is the most important work on social activism and the third sector to emerge this decade. Asheem Singh argues that only a fiercely progressive approach to changing the world will work. The future lies in these pages: not just for charities or social entrepreneurs, but for all of us." Sir Stephen Bubb, CEO of Charity Futures

"The most important work on social activism and the third sector to emerge this decade" Sir Stephen Bubb, CEO of Charity Futures

"Bursting with timely insights The Moral Marketplace makes an important contribution to our thinking about communities and social entrepreneurs. Far from being a dry academic treatise, Asheem Singh's book reads like a novel. Highly recommended." Professor Matt Qvortrup, Coventry University, author of 'Angela Merkel: Europe's Most Influential Leader'

"This book is the rallying cry for the socially conscious, business-savvy radical who knows that it's not enough to make a difference: today you can be the difference." Doug Miller, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network Chairman and founder of the Africa Venture Philanthropy Association

"This book whirls the reader around the world and through history, telling stories which show a way forward that really will change things.” Kate Welch OBE DL, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Acumen CIC

Introduction: Behold, the social entrepreneur!;

The man who invented a chicken: introducing a global generation of entrepreneurial social activists;

Raising the voices of girl-children: pyramids, incubators and the the fight for equality;

The incredible rise of co-operatives: conscious consumption … slow fashion … ethical exploration … and more …;

How do you know you are making a difference? The metrics and measures that keep social enterprise on-mission;

A trip to the favela: The death and life of traditional charity;

Inside the social enterprise city: how change happens, locally and globally

The bull market of the greater good: fact, fiction and the rise of big-money activism;

The digital device in the wall: #peoplepower meets the block-chain;

Reclaiming the heart of government: ideas for inspiring power in the age of the moral marketplace;

Conclusion: creating a new kind of capitalism.