Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) proposition, where private companies can both be profitable and help alleviate poverty by attending low‐income consumers. Design/methodology/approach – The literature on BOP was reviewed and some key...

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine the purchasing power at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), i.e. of low‐income consumers. Design/methodology/approach – The authors analyze secondary data on income, population, and expenditure at the BOP from different countries, and apply...