Review: World Resources Institute Report: The Next Four Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At the Base of the Pyramid

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The World Resources Institute’s new(ish) report: The Next Four Billion, draws on household income and consumption surveys of the Base of the Pyramid (see a series of posts on this topic) from over a hundred countries.

Rather than provide case study success story descriptions and results, this report provides an assessment (including easy to read graphs and charts) of various Base of the Pyramid markets. Analysis includes:

  • A fairly detailed portrait of the BoP including characteristics besides poverty:
    • Significant unmet needs; and
    • Dependence on informal/subsistence livelihoods
  • Country and regional overviews of the size and income of the BoP market;
  • Total market size, including ability to pay; and
  • A review of the “penalty” faced by BOP consumers in the form of higher prices, poorer quality goods and services, or lack of access to services.

Industry sectors specifically covered (with targeted strategies) in this report include:

  1. Health
  2. Information and Communications
  3. Water
  4. Transportation
  5. Housing
  6. Energy
  7. Food
  8. Financial Services

The report also includes a series of powerpoint presentations based on these above-mentioned industry sectors.

There is a considerable amount of data included in this report, and users will find this to be a good starting point for research into specific geographies and their suitability for business entry.

Photo Credit: Ahmed Rabea via Flickr’s Creative Commons

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