Michael Green is part of the team that has created the Social Progress Index, a standard to rank societies based on how they meet the needs of citizens.

Why you should listen

In his book Philanthrocapitalism (co-authored with Economist business editor Matthew Bishop), Michael Green defined a new model for social change built on partnerships between wealthy businesses, governments and community organizations. Shortly thereafter, Bishop floated the idea of a "Social Competiveness Index," the idea that one day countries would compete with one another to be the most socially advanced, in the same way as they now compete to be economic top dog. Green loved it and decided to turn it into reality.

Teaming up with Avina's president Brizio Biondi-Morra, Sally Osberg of the Skoll Foundation and many other thought leaders from businesses and foundations, he began work on what would become the Social Progress Imperative, of which he's now CEO. Later they were joined by Harvard management guru Michael E. Porter, who became chairman of the SPI's advisory board. The first Social Progress Index was published in 2014.

More news and ideas from Michael Green

News

Open: The talks of TED@DestinationCanada

March 13, 2023

When we come together with open hearts and open minds, anything is possible. It was in this spirit that TED partnered with Destination Canada for a day of talks and performances featuring new ideas on living, seeing the world and reimagining our shared future. The event: TED@DestinationCanada: Open is the first event TED and Destination […]

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We humans

Why we shouldn’t judge a country by its GDP

April 22, 2015

Analysts, reporters, and “big thinkers” everywhere love to talk about Gross Domestic Product. It has become the yardstick by which we measure a country’s success. But, argues Michael Green, it's also potentially misleading. His alternative? The Social Progress Index, which measures things like basic human needs and opportunity.

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