'Economist' editor, diverse group of philanthropists visit U.
Heather Brookhart / Staff Writer
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: University
Matthew Bishop, the American business editor of The Economist and the publication's chief business writer, gave a lecture Tuesday about the relationship between philanthropy and politics.
"The New Philanthropy: Prospects and Challenges" panel featured several philanthropists other in the Lecture Hall of the Alexander Library on the College Avenue campus.
Author of a survey supplement in The Economist, "The Business of Giving," Bishop also has an upcoming book, titled "Philanthrocapitalism," which will be published in September.
Bishop talked about how he became interested in philanthropy and about his various interviews with wealthy philanthropists such as Bill Gates, known to be the richest man in the world and the chair of the Microsoft Corporation.
Bishop, who grew up in London, said the British government took care of social problems and activism was widely used to attempt to change government policy.
He said the idea of philanthropy was something unknown to him at the time he lived in England, and that he came to the United States 10 years ago to report on the dot-com boom.
He became fascinated with what people gaining tremendous wealth would do with their money, he said.
Bishop said many newly wealthy people he spoke with told him they never expected to make so much money and somehow felt wrong that they were so wealthy.
Therefore, many turned to philanthropic pursuits, he said.
"The sort of things they were talking about really did have the potential to change the world and make the world a better place" Bishop said.
He said people are now much more aware of the social problems present on the other side of the world in places like India, Darfur and China and that their money is not what fulfills them in life.
"I think that what [wealthy people] are doing is tapping into a whole series of really important trends that affect society as a whole," Bishop said.
Tolu Oyetunde, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, said Bishop made him hopeful that people can make changes in the world.
"The New Philanthropy: Prospects and Challenges" panel featured several philanthropists other in the Lecture Hall of the Alexander Library on the College Avenue campus.
Author of a survey supplement in The Economist, "The Business of Giving," Bishop also has an upcoming book, titled "Philanthrocapitalism," which will be published in September.
Bishop talked about how he became interested in philanthropy and about his various interviews with wealthy philanthropists such as Bill Gates, known to be the richest man in the world and the chair of the Microsoft Corporation.
Bishop, who grew up in London, said the British government took care of social problems and activism was widely used to attempt to change government policy.
He said the idea of philanthropy was something unknown to him at the time he lived in England, and that he came to the United States 10 years ago to report on the dot-com boom.
He became fascinated with what people gaining tremendous wealth would do with their money, he said.
Bishop said many newly wealthy people he spoke with told him they never expected to make so much money and somehow felt wrong that they were so wealthy.
Therefore, many turned to philanthropic pursuits, he said.
"The sort of things they were talking about really did have the potential to change the world and make the world a better place" Bishop said.
He said people are now much more aware of the social problems present on the other side of the world in places like India, Darfur and China and that their money is not what fulfills them in life.
"I think that what [wealthy people] are doing is tapping into a whole series of really important trends that affect society as a whole," Bishop said.
Tolu Oyetunde, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, said Bishop made him hopeful that people can make changes in the world.