DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates
called on Thursday for a new "creative capitalism" to help the world's poorest
people.
Gates, one of the world's richest men, was not dumping the basic tenets of
capitalism but argues market forces must be better used to address the needs of
those left behind by advances in technology and healthcare.
"We have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier
people serve poorer people as well," he told the annual meeting of the World
Economic Forum. "I like to call this idea creative capitalism."
The speech to top businessmen and politicians in Davos reflects Gates's
growing focus on philanthropy. Gates built Microsoft into a formidable and
sometimes controversial money machine, which has been accused in the past of
abusing its market position.
But he will retire from full-time employment at Seattle-based Microsoft at
the end of June to concentrate on his charitable organisation, the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler)
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