Project Coordinator

Our mission is to drive the profound evolution of financial theory and practice necessary to harness the power of capital and markets to create a more just and sustainable economic system.

Capital Institute is a 21st Century think and act network, founded in 2009 by successful financiers, business people, and academics, in collaboration with leaders from multiple disciplines, to effect change.

The core principle guiding the Capital Institute's work is holism (holos is a Greek word meaning all or entire) first introduced by Aristotle in Metaphysics: "The whole is more than the sum of its parts." In his seminal work, Holism and Evolution (1926), J.C. Smuts succeeded to derive his holistic thinking from the new scientific worldview brought about by Einstein's theory of relativity and new insights into quantum mechanics. Complexity science, the study of complex adaptive systems, is built on this holistic principle, as is modern biology.

Aristotle and Smuts recognized that the properties of a system cannot be explained by its parts alone. Rather, the whole system determines how the parts behave - a critical distinction. This behavior, while not always predictable, does allow for ontological thought, which can advance our understanding of finance and economics.

Remarkably, modern economics is built on a reductionist, outdated mechanical worldview . Thus the macro economy is considered to be simply the sum of all the micro economic units (firms, households, etc). In fact, the modern economic paradigm considers the economy to be a closed system, separate from the social and biological systems within which it sits. This is patently false. So-called externalities (to the economic system's framework) are becoming central threats to our prosperity and the focal point of economics.

Modern finance is also reductionist at its core. Derivatives have allowed risk to be deconstructed into distinct elements such as interest rate risk, credit risk, currency risk and so on. Securitization has allowed the packaging of various pieces of risk into new investment products like Lego sets. We have just learned that these parts are in fact not disconnected parts at all, but highly connected pieces of a complex system we call the global financial system. On a more basic level, the definition of fiduciary duty has been legally reduced to simply maximizing risk adjusted financial return to asset owners, independent from other connected stakeholders. As a result, we see pension funds investing in companies whose employment and environmental practices may hurt the very pensioners whose money is being invested.

We should not be surprised at the deficiencies in economics and finance that recent experience has made clear. Reductionist thinking is insufficient.

Capital Institute seeks to promote the development of new economic and financial frameworks built on the holistic understandings of science. With guidance from the many humanist wisdom traditions the world as it is today often neglects, we seek to connect the knowledge of life science with economics. We seek a financial system that supports life.

Capital Institute will operate across 4 complementary domains:

1. Thought leadership: through the Capital Institute Fellows Program and through collaboration and support of complementary initiatives.
2. Educational outreach: through partnerships such as current relationship with Duke University.
3. Communications: through innovative web 3.0 platform complementing traditional approaches such as conference appearances and publications.
4. Public Policy Impact: working with multiple large membership organizations sharing common objectives (i.e. AARP), Capital Institute intends to give a sophisticated and enlightened voice to the need for economic and financial reform recommendations in public policy debate debates. 

Level 3 Capital Advisors, LLC

Capital Institute is also closely affiliated with and minority owner of Level 3 Capital Advisors, a private impact investment firm seeking to put the ideas developed inside Capital Institute into practice. Level 3 Capital Advisors seeks to invest institutional scale capital in high sustainability impact activities with partner funds (clean energy, sustainable forestry and agriculture, micro credit, local economies, TBL venture capital, green real estate, etc) in order to optimize sustainability impact, subject to risk and return constraints.

Level 3 Capital Advisors and its influential limited partners put theory into practice and measure the impact. They will provide leadership to private sector capital and to the public sector. They make it real.

The World is Full

We are flirting with a point of no return. The $60 Trillion global economy now uses up 1.3 times the earth's capacity to regenerate resources per year, a condition known as ecological overshoot . As we move into ecological deficit, symptoms such as climate change, water shortages, and desertification accelerate. Despite its many achievements, the perpetuation of our modern economic system without fundamental change leads to ecological collapse. A failure to respect regional ecological boundaries has been a primary cause of civilization collapses throughout the history of mankind. We now face multiple ecological boundaries on a global scale. This is new.

Wealth Stratification

At the same time, the top 2% of the world's population control more than half of global financial wealth, while the poorest half of the world owns a mere 1% . This inequity is accelerating as a bi-product of globalization, apart from the neutralizing effect of the recent Great Recession. Such injustice can lead to ecological and societal collapse with reinforcing feedback. For example, ecological collapse is at the core of the poverty and violence in both the Sudan and Haiti, providing vivid modern case studies. Some see direct links between extreme wealth disparity and terrorism.

Change is our Chance

Fundamental change in our economy and in the financial system that supports it is essential. Integration into a proper balance with our ecosystem is Job 1. Ecological overshoot is unsustainable. Economics and finance must be built on a holistic understanding of, and respect for, the life processes that truly preside. We must also reaffirm the ethical values that represent the foundation of civil society. In so doing, we must lean into our souls and ask what we can do to fear not for ourselves, but to act courageously for all. It is in this oscillating seed that we find hope. If there is hope, there is a chance. If there's a chance, we can enact change. We must act now. We must act together. We must act as a whole.

Imagine the wisdom and power Capital Institute will draw to its vision:

Capital fueling the transition to a just and sustainable economy

Capital Institute, The Future of Finance

Position Overview: 

This individual will be the primary staff person responsible for information technology infrastructure set-up of the Capital Institute, webmaster, build database and input data; researching grants and drafting grant proposals, event coordination; setting up grass roots initiatives and whatever else is needed.

Individual will play a key role on the formation of a new institute for changing the way capitalism works. This institute is founded by luminaries in the sustainability and capital markets field. The individual hired must be passionate about the space and building the institute.

Since this is an entry level position, opportunities for greater collaboration across the Capital Institute including leading a focus on help write proposals to support current work, and contribute to efforts to fund new areas of work; author reports, briefs, fact sheets and other materials. Will play a key role in how the institute can make a unique and valuable contribution to changing capitalism. Must be adept and/or have computer science background.

Qualifications:

Required:

At least a Bachelor's degree, related experience and passion for mission. Excellent oral/written communications, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Substantial knowledge of financial policy a plus. Strong research skills, including strong quantitative analytic skills, ability to synthesize information from multiple sources, and experience with both web-based information gathering and primary source research. Proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly Word and extensively Excel. Relational database setup (mysqul or other), required. Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and juggle multiple tasks.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a person with a passion for changing capital markets to a life science model. Comfort and experience with working across disciplines; experience working to respond to and develop policy positions; experience with proposal development and grant writing. Non-profit fund-raising essential. Ability persuasively communicate ideas by phone, email and writing essential. Ability to develop and manage database and function as webmaster - computer science background important. Excellent problem solving skills.

To Apply:

Email with resume and cover letter. Website under construction.