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Subsistence Marketplaces

The foundation for this course lies with unique synergies between pioneering research, teaching, and social initiatives through the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative. Unique to this approach is a bottom-up understanding of the intersection of poverty and the marketplace.

The goals of this course are to help you develop an understanding of marketplace activity in the radically different context of subsistence where much of humanity resides and survives, and for you to design solutions that can be implemented by individuals, businesses, and social enterprises through economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable products for subsistence marketplaces.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines subsistence marketplace trade from a bottom-up perspective, which is a unique approach in the field

Taught by Madhu Viswanathan, a recognized expert in the study of subsistence marketplaces

Develops an understanding of the cognitive predilections engendered by low-income and low-literacy in subsistence marketplaces

Gain insights into consumer and entrepreneur behavior in the unique context of subsistence marketplaces

Learn to identify and evaluate business opportunities for subsistence marketplaces that are economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable

Offers a structured approach to generating and evaluating ideas for addressing the needs of subsistence marketplaces

Provides guidance on crafting a detailed enterprise plan for sustainably delivering a solution in a subsistence marketplace

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Reviews summary

Insightful look at subsistence marketplaces

According to learners, this course offers a unique and insightful perspective (positive) on understanding economic activity in low-income contexts. Students highly value the bottom-up approach (positive), which offers a deep understanding of the lives of individuals within these markets. The course content (positive) is considered highly valuable (positive) for anyone interested in social impact, development, or business in underserved populations. The assignments (positive), particularly crafting an enterprise plan (positive), are frequently cited as being practical and helpful (positive) for applying the concepts learned. While the required readings (neutral) can be extensive, learners generally find them enriching. A few students noted that the course could benefit from more real-world case studies (warning) to balance the theoretical foundation.

Requires significant reading.

"Be prepared for a lot of reading, but the articles and materials provided are very good and add depth."

"The amount of reading material is substantial, but necessary for the depth of the topic being covered."

"Found the required readings insightful, adding valuable context and expanding on lecture material."

Assignments help apply concepts.

"The assignments, especially developing the enterprise plan, were great for putting theory into practice."

"I found designing solutions and crafting the enterprise plan very practical and relevant to real-world challenges."

"Applying the learned concepts to potential solutions felt very useful and grounded the material."

High-quality, relevant information.

"The content is deep, well-structured, and provides a solid foundation for understanding subsistence marketplaces."

"Learned a lot about the unique challenges and opportunities in these markets through well-designed modules."

"Very informative course covering essential aspects like consumers, entrepreneurs, and marketplace dynamics."

Offers eye-opening views on markets.

"This course completely changed my perspective on marketplaces in low-income settings. Truly eye-opening and valuable."

"The unique bottom-up approach to understanding subsistence marketplaces is incredibly insightful..."

"I never thought about poverty and markets this way before. The perspective is truly a strength."

"Learned so much about the realities faced by consumers and entrepreneurs in these contexts."

Could use more case studies.

"While the theory is solid, I wish there were more real-world case studies to illustrate the concepts..."

"A bit theoretical at times; more examples from the field would have been helpful for practical understanding."

"Found some modules could benefit from more concrete, practical examples drawn from actual subsistence marketplace initiatives."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Subsistence Marketplaces with these activities:

Review key concepts in poverty and social initiatives

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Reviewing these concepts can strengthen your foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Poverty

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Identify the key concepts related to poverty and social initiatives.
Summarize the main points of each concept.
Write down examples of how these concepts apply to real-world situations.

Attend a conference or workshop on subsistence marketplaces

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Attending events can provide opportunities to engage with experts, learn from others, and expand your network.

Browse courses on Subsistence Marketplaces

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Research and find relevant conferences or workshops on subsistence marketplaces.
Register for the event and make travel arrangements if necessary.
Attend the event, actively participate in sessions, and connect with other attendees.
Follow up with individuals you met at the event.

Organize a study group or discussion forum for course topics

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Engaging with peers can foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and deeper understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Subsistence Marketplaces

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Find a group of classmates who are interested in forming a study group or discussion forum.
Set regular meeting times and decide on a format for your sessions.
Meet regularly to discuss course topics, share insights, and work on assignments together.

Three other activities

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Solve case studies on subsistence marketplace strategies

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Solving case studies can enhance your problem-solving skills and apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios in subsistence marketplaces.

Browse courses on Case Studies

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Read and analyze the case study carefully.
Identify the key issues and challenges faced by the organization or community in the case study.
Develop and evaluate potential solutions to the issues identified.
Write a brief report or presentation summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Read and summarize: 'The Poverty of Abundance' by Willy Foote

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This book provides insights into the complexities of poverty and the challenges faced by subsistence marketplaces.

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Read 'The Poverty of Abundance' by Willy Foote.
Take notes while reading, highlighting key points and concepts.
Write a summary of the book, including the main arguments, evidence, and implications.

Design a product or service for a subsistence marketplace

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Developing a product or service for a subsistence marketplace can provide hands-on experience in applying the concepts learned in the course.

Browse courses on Product Design

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Identify a need or problem faced by a subsistence marketplace community.
Research and analyze the target market and their specific needs.
Brainstorm and develop potential product or service ideas.
Create a prototype or mock-up of your idea.
Test and evaluate your product or service with potential users.

Career center

Learners who complete Subsistence Marketplaces will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Case Manager

Case Managers help individuals and families who are facing challenges such as poverty, homelessness, and mental illness. They work to connect people with resources and services that can help them improve their lives. This course can be helpful for Case Managers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Case Managers develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Case Manager

Community Development Worker

Community Development Workers work to improve the lives of people in low-income communities. They work on projects such as affordable housing, job training, and youth development. This course can be helpful for Community Development Workers because it provides an understanding of the challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Community Development Workers develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Development Worker

Economic Development Officer

Economic Development Officers work to promote economic growth in communities. They work on projects such as business development, job creation, and infrastructure improvement. This course can be helpful for Economic Development Officers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that businesses and entrepreneurs in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Economic Development Officers develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economic Development Officer

Public Health Specialist

Public Health Specialists work to improve the health of communities. They work on projects such as disease prevention, health education, and environmental health. This course can be helpful for Public Health Specialists because it provides an understanding of the unique health challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Public Health Specialists develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

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Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurs use business principles to solve social problems. They work to create businesses that are both profitable and sustainable. This course can be helpful for Social Entrepreneurs because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that businesses face in subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Social Entrepreneurs develop skills in creating businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help people overcome challenges such as poverty, homelessness, and mental illness. They work to connect people with resources and services that can help them improve their lives. This course can be helpful for Social Workers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Social Workers develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Urban Planner

Urban Planners work to improve the built environment. They work on projects such as land use planning, transportation planning, and housing development. This course can be helpful for Urban Planners because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Urban Planners develop skills in planning for communities with limited resources.

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International Development Specialist

International Development Specialists work to improve the lives of people in developing countries. They work on projects such as health care, education, and economic development. This course can be helpful for International Development Specialists because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help International Development Specialists develop skills in working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of non-profit organizations. They work to ensure that the organization is meeting its mission and goals. This course can be helpful for Nonprofit Managers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that non-profits face in subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Nonprofit Managers develop skills in managing organizations with limited resources.

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Program Manager

Program Managers oversee the implementation of programs and projects. They work to ensure that the program is meeting its goals and objectives. This course can be helpful for Program Managers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that programs and projects face in subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Program Managers develop skills in managing programs with limited resources.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the implementation of projects. They work to ensure that the project is meeting its goals and objectives. This course can be helpful for Project Managers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that projects face in subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Project Managers develop skills in managing projects with limited resources.

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Grant Writer

Grant Writers write grant proposals to secure funding for non-profit organizations and government agencies. This course can be helpful for Grant Writers because it provides an understanding of the needs of subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Grant Writers develop skills in writing persuasive grant proposals.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. They work to develop and recommend solutions to policy problems. This course can be helpful for Policy Analysts because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that people in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Policy Analysts develop skills in analyzing complex issues and developing effective solutions.

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Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts collect and analyze data about markets and consumers. This course can be helpful for Market Research Analysts because it provides an understanding of the unique characteristics of subsistence marketplaces. It can also help Market Research Analysts develop skills in conducting research in challenging environments.

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Teacher

Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects. This course can be helpful for Teachers because it provides an understanding of the unique challenges that students in subsistence marketplaces face. It can also help Teachers develop skills in teaching students from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Subsistence Marketplaces.