The unreasonable man questions the status quo: Nobel laureate Prof Yunus at Social Business Symposium

Who is unreasonable: Prof. Muhammad Yunus or our system?

This question resonated among the attendees gathered to hear Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus speak at the Social Business Symposium held in 2012.

Introducing Prof. Yunus, Dr. Riaz Khan, Director of the Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), quoted George Bernard Shaw, describing Yunus as an “unreasonable man,” and quickly added: “Essentially, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Seizing on this concept, the Nobel laureate proceeded to critique many ideas underpinning the current system, questioning their rationality.

Is it reasonable that banks should provide loans to the rich, not to those who need them most? That markets are assumed to solve all problems, even after a financial crisis? That money is touted as humanity’s focus while the vast majority of the world’s population remains underprivileged and poor? “An economic system that creates unemployment — is that reasonable? A health system that focuses on treating patients rather than keeping people healthy — is that reasonable?” Prof. Yunus asked.

(Originally published on May 9, 2012 at this link: https://ait.ac.th/2012/05/the-unreasonable-man-questions-the-status-quo-nobel-laureate-prof-yunus-at-social-business-symposium/)

Prof. Yunus, who launched the Yunus Center at AIT in 2009, urged people to embrace the concept of “social business,” which aims to use business principles to solve social problems rather than merely generating profits. “Eighty percent of social business is about innovative ideas that solve problems, while only twenty percent is about money,” he said. He emphasized that human creativity, being boundless, should focus on problem-solving.

Citing an example from Bangladesh, Prof. Yunus explained how a social business enterprise tackled night blindness by providing affordable vegetable seeds to the needy. The poor could purchase these seeds for less than one Thai baht per packet. Increased vegetable consumption helped them intake more vitamin A, while the surplus produce sold in markets generated income. This enterprise has become the largest seed bank in Bangladesh.

Other initiatives include fortified yogurt for malnourished children, treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria, and providing solar lighting to the poor. Today, the Grameen Bank, founded by Prof. Yunus, lends USD 1.5 billion annually. “This idea has been successfully replicated worldwide,” he said, “including in New York where Grameen now operates four branches.” He added that even Omaha, Warren Buffett’s hometown, hosts a Grameen bank.

Prof. Yunus advocate s for people to stop relying solely on government solutions and instead take initiative through social business. From post-earthquake Tokyo to the recession-hit USA, from social businesses in Germany and France led by MNCs to women-led enterprises in Bangladesh, the world is adopting the concept of social business. Can this solve unemployment? According to Prof. Yunus, we should aim to create a new civilization free from unemployment.

By the way, have you ever heard of an unemployed animal, he asked?

Unreasonable?