Chile (like many other) is a country of contradictions. The latest is this.

Since the return to democracy, (1989),  4 left wing governments have cheerfully followed the most conservative (free markets) of economic policies . The results speak for themselves, look at per capita income growth and poverty reduction rates.

During the left presidencies, (Aylwin, Frei, Lagos and Bachelet) people seemed to be happy. No government mistake (see transantiago) or corruption scandal created any significant anger. People seemed content.

In the first years of Pinera’s government and despite a devastating earthquake, people have come to the streets. To demand everything from clean energy to free education. There are crowded events and marches almost every week.

The irony is that Pinera has been more populist than any government in the left. See for example the proposed maternity leave or bonus payments.

Growing old

Every chance I get I tell my students that they will be the first generation with a bimodal death age. Those who are wealthy, take care of themselves eat well and exercise will live to 120 (I would stress wealth and eating habits)  and those who don’t… well… diabetes, cholesterol will make sure they die at 50 – 60. I finally run across a piece that provides evidence of it. It is related to retirement,  but worth reading.

I challenge my students to think about career paths when they will have to work 100 years. It becomes important to do something that you enjoy.  Who could stand to be a lawyer or banker for 80 years?  Who could be good at some trade for so long?

 I also challenge my students to think about graduate school l when they are not 30 but 55 or 65.

I want to challenge Universities about the same. At a time when many schools are rethinking themselves,  are we ready to attract and receive the new mature-adult student? Do we know what they need to know?

Can we learn from the nonprofit sector?

As I emerge from my summer break, I wanted to share something that a little out of the scope of this blog, but close to my heart and research.

Many suggest that the nonprofit sector is plagued witth inefficiencies , lack of technology and know how. My research and that of other academics suggests otherwise, for this reason I want to bring your attention to Mother Teresa, CEO by Bose and Faust. They suggest we can...