Buying shares in countries
November 9, 2007You will probably think I’m mad when reading this headline, and you’re right, I’m quite possibly a little nuts. But while studying for my IMC I just had a thought about how much fun it would be if countries were to issue shares. They issue bonds after all, so why not shares? (Yes, it is governments issuing the bonds but that’s just boring and doesn’t help my argument…)
First of all, once the country’s shares were listed, we could hope that governments would now actually have to work in the best interest of their shareholders, something they have frequently failed to do for their voters.
Moreover, there would be no need for wars anymore - we’d have mergers and acquisitions instead. And seriously - how cool would it be to tell everyone that you own your share of the UK?
(Just to clarify - this is not financial advice in any sense. Just in case you wondered 
)
I'd buy a share of China then I think -
Miss Millionairess | November 11, 2007 | 12:33 pmI’d buy a share of China then I think - surely that would be a pretty good investment for the next 20 years or so…?
Definitely - but I'd also be keen on Brazil for
Kirsten | November 11, 2007 | 12:43 pmDefinitely - but I’d also be keen on Brazil for example…
If we're talking real long term what about a few
Miss Millionairess | November 11, 2007 | 6:21 pmIf we’re talking real long term what about a few shares in Nigeria, Kenya or more or less any country in South America! Would be pretty cool to say you owned a share of them
Antartica all the way! Floating countries on the stockmarket would
Ad | November 12, 2007 | 11:19 amAntartica all the way!
Floating countries on the stockmarket would certainly ensure that a country’s best financial interests were upheld when it came to policy decisions as they would be made by all the important people (those willing to actually invest in the country and hence actually care about it (I’ve never liked democracy much ;))) Alternatively i suppose this would mean that some evil mastermind could buy a country and send it straight to oblivion, turn it into a large prison, or just turn it into a nice muddy mosaic..
You could say the same about companies...
Kirsten | November 13, 2007 | 12:00 amYou could say the same about companies…