Subject category:
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Published by:
RSM Case Development Centre
Length: 21 pages
Data source: Field research
Topics:
Rotterdam; Developed country; Urban; Poverty; Inequality; Business; Government; NGO; Immigration; Job; Education; Income gap; Social entrepreneur
Notes: This item is part of a free case collection. For terms & conditions go to www.thecasecentre.org/freecaseterms
Abstract
The case looks at the complex issue of inequality in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and how a wider collaboration between all stakeholders could help build a more equal and inclusive society - a challenge that could be applied to most modern cities in the world. Inequality was closely linked to poverty in Rotterdam; the municipality's poverty rate was the highest in the Netherlands. Inequality and segregation in the city were characterised by high unemployment, a high density of manual workers and low educational attainment. While some government interventions promoted equity by taxing those at higher income levels and redistributing welfare benefits to those on lower incomes, national policy on possible solutions increasingly tended towards encouraging collaboration between all societal stakeholders involved. Three organisations - JINC (non-profit), Voor Goed (government-partnered) and Coca-Cola (corporate) - were aware that addressing inequality not only involved big challenges (securing the financial resources to scale up, creating poverty awareness, keeping social entrepreneurs in the city, measuring the impact, etc), but that it also represented huge opportunities to build partnerships and foster collaborative ways of working. Though the three organisations had different perspectives, business models and challenges, they shared one aim. How could they succeed in their ambitious goal? The case is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) case series, developed by Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. This case is part of the RSM free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/rsmfreecases for more information on the collection).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2020.Geographical setting
Region:
Europe
Country:
The Netherlands
Location:
Rotterdam
Featured companies
Coca-Cola European Partners Netherlands
Employees:
10000+
Type:
Public company
Industry:
Beverage and food
JINC
Type:
Non-profit
Industry:
Education
Voor Goed
Industry:
Impact Consultancy
Featured protagonists
- Arjanne Hoogstad (female), Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola
- Jonna Wiersma (female), Regional Director at JINC
- Michiel van Keulen (male), Investment Expert at Voor Goed
About
Abstract
The case looks at the complex issue of inequality in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and how a wider collaboration between all stakeholders could help build a more equal and inclusive society - a challenge that could be applied to most modern cities in the world. Inequality was closely linked to poverty in Rotterdam; the municipality's poverty rate was the highest in the Netherlands. Inequality and segregation in the city were characterised by high unemployment, a high density of manual workers and low educational attainment. While some government interventions promoted equity by taxing those at higher income levels and redistributing welfare benefits to those on lower incomes, national policy on possible solutions increasingly tended towards encouraging collaboration between all societal stakeholders involved. Three organisations - JINC (non-profit), Voor Goed (government-partnered) and Coca-Cola (corporate) - were aware that addressing inequality not only involved big challenges (securing the financial resources to scale up, creating poverty awareness, keeping social entrepreneurs in the city, measuring the impact, etc), but that it also represented huge opportunities to build partnerships and foster collaborative ways of working. Though the three organisations had different perspectives, business models and challenges, they shared one aim. How could they succeed in their ambitious goal? The case is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) case series, developed by Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. This case is part of the RSM free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/rsmfreecases for more information on the collection).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Settings
Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2020.Geographical setting
Region:
Europe
Country:
The Netherlands
Location:
Rotterdam
Featured companies
Coca-Cola European Partners Netherlands
Employees:
10000+
Type:
Public company
Industry:
Beverage and food
JINC
Type:
Non-profit
Industry:
Education
Voor Goed
Industry:
Impact Consultancy
Featured protagonists
- Arjanne Hoogstad (female), Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola
- Jonna Wiersma (female), Regional Director at JINC
- Michiel van Keulen (male), Investment Expert at Voor Goed