Government Alone Can’t Solve Society’s Biggest Problems World hunger. Climate change. Crumbling infrastructure. It’s clear that in today’s era of fiscal constraints and political gridlock, we can no longer turn to government alone to tackle these and other towering social problems. What’s required is a new, more collaborative and productive economic system. The Solution Revolution brings hope—revealing just such a burgeoning new economy where players from across the spectrum of business, government, philanthropy, and social enterprise converge to solve big problems and create public value. By erasing public-private sector boundaries, the solution economy is unlocking trillions of dollars in social benefit and commercial value. Where tough societal problems persist, new problem solvers are crowdfunding, ridesharing, app-developing, or impact-investing to design innovative new solutions for seemingly intractable problems. Providing low-cost health care, fighting poverty, creating renewable energy, and preventing obesity are just a few of the tough challenges that also represent tremendous opportunities for those at the vanguard of this movement. They create markets for social good and trade solutions instead of dollars to fill the gap between what government can provide and what citizens need. So what drives the solution economy? Who are these new players and how are their roles changing? How can we grow the movement? And how can we participate? Deloitte’s William D. Eggers and Paul Macmillan answer these questions and more, and they introduce us to the people and organizations driving the revolution—from edgy social enterprises growing at a clip of 15 percent a year, to megafoundations, to Fortune 500 companies delivering social good on the path to profit. Recyclebank, RelayRides, and LivingGoods are just a few of the innovative organizations you’ll read about in this book. Government cannot handle alone the huge challenges facing our global society—and it shouldn’t. We need a different economic paradigm that can flexibly draw on resources, combine efforts, and create value, while improving the lives of citizens. The Solution Revolution shows the way. Executives Eggers and Macmillan set out to explain the multitrillion dollar “solution economy,” which is arising as governments partner with the private sector (citizens, businesses, entrepreneurs, and foundations) to address society’s urgent and deep-seated problems locally and worldwide. This new approach replaces the historic government-dominated model for solving entrenched problems in fields including health care, poverty, education, housing, and recycling. The public-private partnerships are possible because of technology and access to funding, collaborating tools for citizens to work together on challenging issues, and corporate awareness that enables its leaders to devote resources to addressing society’s pressing problems. The authors cite many new players in the societal problem-solving arena during the last 10 years, including Acumen, Ashoka, Kiva, and Zipcar. The authors conclude that a brighter future is ours “if we are savvy enough to grasp it.” Loaded with important information for a wide range of library patrons. --Mary Whaley “…pulsating with fresh ideas about civic and business and philanthropic engagement…the breadth of examples is impressive and global.” — The Wall Street Journal “Eggers and Macmillan’s work succeeds…as a guide to new opportunities to profit from ‘socially impactful’ activities once thought unprofitable.” — Financial Times “Another good read, The Solution Revolution explores how business, government, philanthropy and social enterprise are converging to solve big problems and create public value...the innovations Eggers and Macmillan outline, and the possibilities they imagine, are fascinating and tantalizing.” — The Washington Post “ The Solution Revolution is an excellent primer for anyone interested in joining the ranks of the social sector…Very few authors and researchers have provided such a comprehensive view of the social sector…” — Policy Perspectives (policy-perspectives.org) “This book looks at how business, government, and social enterprises are teaming up to solve society's toughest problems. “It’s the best book out there on mobilising communities to solve wicked problems,” says Peter Williams from audit and consulting firm Deloitte.” — Sydney Morning Herald , Summer Reading List, Tech Knowledge “… a fascinating preview of our economic future, a system where choice, sustainability, and more adaptive ecosystems offer all of us the ability to collaborate towards better solutions.” — USA Book News “… a pick for social issues and business collections alike. Business collections will find this a specific, inspirational guide!” — Midwest Book Review “For a book devoted to seemingly intractable problems, it has a very hopeful message.” — BizEd magazine “A thought-provoking book o