The motion up for debate at the 2021 Skoll World Forum is: There is no such thing as “inclusive capitalism”; Capitalism inherently intensifies inequity and exploitation. Our current economic system promotes short-term thinking and growth at all costs, resulting in poverty, inequality, and destruction of the environment. While capitalism has lifted billions of people out of poverty, it has also allocated risk and reward inequitably across society. This has left many wondering if the tools of capitalism can be leveraged to advance equity, or must we look to other models?
The Acumen Debates series, in collaboration with EY, aims to ignite discussions on issues pertinent to the global social impact community. Since its launch in 2015, Acumen & EY have hosted five such debates on the role of government, financial and social impact trade-offs, and the like.
The debate format required speakers to take stances that might not accurately represent their true points of view, or that of their organization.