Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Working Knowledge
Business Research for Business Leaders
  • Browse All Articles
  • Popular Articles
  • Cold Call Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • All Topics...
  • Topics
    • COVID-19
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Gender
    • Globalization
    • Leadership
    • Management
    • Negotiation
    • Social Enterprise
    • Strategy
  • Sections
    • Book
    • Cold Call Podcast
    • HBS Case
    • In Practice
    • Lessons from the Classroom
    • Op-Ed
    • Research & Ideas
    • Research Event
    • Sharpening Your Skills
    • What Do You Think?
    • Working Paper Summaries
  • Browse All
    • COVID-19 Business Impact Center
      COVID-19 Business Impact Center
      Sustainability and Green Business in Latin America During Globalization Waves
      22 Aug 2018Working Paper Summaries

      Sustainability and Green Business in Latin America During Globalization Waves

      by Geoffrey Jones
      Capitalism has created much wealth, but at the cost of massive ecological destruction. This has been particularly severe in Latin America over the past century. Yet the last three decades have also seen a wave of businesses across sectors ranging from beauty to eco-tourism aimed at greater sustainability.
      LinkedIn
      Email

      Author Abstract

      This working paper examines the most negative impact of modern business enterprise on the natural environment of Latin America during the globalization waves between the 19th century and the present day. During the first global economy the exploitation of natural resources made the land-owning elite wealthy, but at the cost of large-scale ecological destruction. During the Great Reversal in the mid-20th century, public policies aimed at “catching up” resulted in the proliferation of hydro-electric schemes, and resulting co-creation of ecological damage by business and governments. In the new global economy since 1980, renewed economic growth and consumerism have resulted in mountains of waste in polluted mega-cities. Yet there were interesting positives as the scale of ecological degradation provoked the emergence of a new cohort of green businesses across sectors ranging from beauty and health to ecotourism. Sustainability has been constantly challenged since the nineteenth century in a region characterized by fragile and often corrupt governments, high levels of poverty and inequality, macroeconomic instability, and closely-held business groups heavily invested in preserving family wealth. In the 21st century, both business and governments in the region needed to address sustainability issues far more seriously, before a point of no return was reached.

      Paper Information

      • Full Working Paper Text
      • Working Paper Publication Date: August 2018
      • HBS Working Paper Number: HBS Working Paper #19-009
      • Faculty Unit(s): General Management
        Trending
          • 29 Oct 2020
          • Research & Ideas

          The COVID Gender Gap: Why Fewer Women Are Dying

          • 13 Jul 2020
          • Research & Ideas

          Merck CEO Ken Frazier Discusses a COVID Cure, Racism, and Why Leaders Need to Walk the Talk

          • 25 Feb 2019
          • Research & Ideas

          How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence

          • 19 Jan 2021
          • In Practice

          Leadership Advice for Biden: Restore a Sense of Calm

          • 01 Nov 2020
          • Research & Ideas

          Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness

      Geoffrey G. Jones
      Geoffrey G. Jones
      Isidor Straus Professor of Business History
      Contact
      Send an email
      → More Articles
      Find Related Articles
      • Environmental Sustainability
      • Latin America

      Sign up for our weekly newsletter

      Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.
      ǁ
      Campus Map
      Harvard Business School Working Knowledge
      Baker Library | Bloomberg Center
      Soldiers Field
      Boston, MA 02163
      Email: Editor-in-Chief
      →Map & Directions
      →More Contact Information
      • Make a Gift
      • Site Map
      • Jobs
      • Harvard University
      • Trademarks
      • Policies
      • Digital Accessibility
      Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College