>>Right, but now we have investment vehicles where you can effectively invest in investments alone. This is a big problem, and one that is exacerbated by a str

>>Right, but now we have investment vehicles where you can effectively invest in investments alone. This is a big problem, and one that is exacerbated by a strong legal system (read - powerful government) that enables, supports, and protects the gains made from these investment vehicles while disproportionately minimizing their downside risks. >But, without the government, you could likely also just invest directly in competitors to keep them down such that said company still does well. This is entirely possible, but remember that as an investor, your dollars are competing against other investors' dollars. More often than not, you are also investing as a shareholder with many other shareholders who have interests in seeing that company succeed. While I think what you are saying is theoretically possible, I'm not sure it would be a common occurrence, unless you have evidence to demonstrate otherwise.