The Medici family, through commercial and business ventures, attained considerable wealth and political sway in thirteenth century Florence. They also initiated the concept of patronage, providing sums of money to scientists to pursue their research; in fact, science philanthropy in the modern day resembles this Medici-esque patronage structure. Philanthropy can positively impact the research community, in part due to the flexibility of the funding structure it provides as well as the lack of political influence compared to public funding. They also have the flexibility to test new funding mechanisms that public funding bodies can later adopt, such as supporting individuals and not projects - in a way serving as a funding R&D project for future funding initiatives. However, the direction of research may also be skewed by vested interests from foundations and donors - as well as having other potentially negative downstream effects on the rate of progress. This chapter explores the complex role of philanthropy in setting the rate and direction of medical progress and provides solutions on how to improve their impact.

Chapter 5 introduces the major causes of skepticism, including misinformation and worldviews and values, and offers some possible strategies for countering these influences.

Focuses on the reform measures needed to improve payment collection rates and improve the financial viability of energy companies, in the context of the market-based reorganization of energy supply. Besides artificially low energy tariffs, non-payment of energy bills and theft of energy are major causes of the financial difficulties which the utilities face in Central Asia, and in transition and developing economies more generally. Chapter 7 examines the tools that Central Asian law provides to the energy companies to enforce the payment of energy bills and critically discusses judicial practice in the field. Surprisingly, the courts generally play an active role in the enforcement of payment claims. However, utilities find it much more challenging to enforce payment claims against enterprises of strategic interest (e.g., agricultural producers and aluminium and mining companies). The political sensitivity of the energy supply often predetermines the outcome of judicial decisions in non-payment cases.