Capitalist speculation

Experimental visualization of narrower problems

Other Names:

Speculation in capitalism
Investment capitalism
Global casino capitalism

Nature:

Speculative investment within the capitalist system may enrich the investors and the financial community, but in so doing it creates economic and political instability with negative repercussions on the welfare of the majority. The evolution of capitalism, in first creating an artificial and non-productive elite class with regard to the ownership of the means of production, tends towards an even greater abstraction of this class from the production process. Speculation may involve overseas and colonial holdings. The double role of commodities and money as exchange value as well as real value reaches its peak in speculation which may alter the exchange value drastically, according to artificially-created supply and demand. A direct result of speculation may be inflation.

Capital that is not dissipated in conspicuous consumption or used for financing land transactions may not be available for industrial uses in developing countries because it is invested instead in speculative commercial undertakings.

Broader Problems:

Capitalism
Dominance of economic motives
Self-interest driven investment

Narrower Problems:

Leveraged buy-outs
Abuse of tax havens
Property speculation
Commodity speculation
Limited market development
Insurance industry collapse
Speculation on money markets
Speculative flight of capital
Short-term profit maximization
Vulnerability of stock markets
Profit-oriented interest payments
Outdated labour negotiation procedures
Overemphasis on rapid returns on investment
Restrictive practices favouring the investor
Parochial limitations on capital flow in relation to global demands

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

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Capitalist speculation

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA