This week, the richest business leaders and investors from around the world have gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. In keeping with tradition, a small portion of the agenda will be devoted to global development and the plight of people living at the other end of the global income distribution. Philanthropy is one way of linking the fortunes of these disparate communities. What if some of the mega-rich could be persuaded to redistribute their wealth to the extreme poor? This question may feel hackneyed, but it deserves a fresh hearing in light of a dramatic reduction in ... (full story)