Economist: Creating Shared Value named a top trend in 2012

A new Economist article cites Shared Value as a trend in 2012 per research by J. Walter Thompson, based on its polling data and surveys of markets around the world.

Excerpt from the article:

"JWT offers the following top ten, explaining also: Trends don’t happen in isolation. They tend to intersect and work in tandem with each other, as you’ll see here. And many are extensions or outgrowths of trends we formerly spotted; after all, trends with real significance can’t be assigned to just one calendar year. The trends explored here, which we believe have significant weight and momentum, indicate shifts that are likely to be with us for a while.

. . .

The Rise of Shared Value: Rather than simply doling out checks to good causes, some corporations are starting to shift their business models, integrating social issues into their core strategies. The aim is to create shared value, a concept that reflects the growing belief that generating a profit and achieving social progress are not mutually exclusive goals. (Example: Philips is partnering with the Dutch government in a bid to provide affordable, sustainable energy solutions to some 10 million people across 10 sub-Saharan African nations by 2015.)"

Read the full article here.