Mainstream media coverage of the intersection between business and poverty has been strong of late, undoubtedly catalyzed by Yunus winning the Peace Prize last week.  Three stories – two from National Public Radio and one from the New York Times – bear special mention here on NextBillion.

John Tierney writes in the New York Times (subscription required) that those of us interested in making poverty history should stop lauding Muhammad Yunus long enough to recognize another hero in the poverty alleviation fight: Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart.  He argues that poor villagers often prefer working $2 a day jobs in factories that supply Wal-Mart’s famously low-cost goods, and that even low-income jobs are better than no jobs whatsoever.  

Unfortunately, Tierney misses the mark.  He oversimplifies the argument that jobs – even low-paying jobs – are a pathway out of poverty.  That villagers have the right to choose sweatshop wages is, in a way, the producer-side version of C.K. Prahalad’s much-maligned BOP consumer choice argument.  Unlike Prahalad, however, Tierney does not have a well-researched 400+ page book to back him up when critics come knocking.  More critical coverage of Tierney’s op-ed is at MicroCapital.

The other two stories of note are segments from NPR’s Marketplace.  (This story continues past the break; click "Read More" for the rest)