I am reading "To Build Anew" by Don Brown which is about creating principle-centered, self-sustaining enterprises. These enterprises would blur the distinction between for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations since they would be self-sustaining while contributing to the general good of humanity.

In relating what I am reading to investing, I have tried to imagine how the stockmarket would operate if all business was conducted according to the principles Mr. Brown has outlined. Investors would be entitled to a moderate rate of return on their capital, probably paid by dividends. I suppose there could be a stockmarket but I haven't quite figured out the reason(s) to trade shares.

Since the object of the enterprise is to work for the betterment of the world, not maximizing shareholder equity there wouldn't be the emphasis on profits or quarterly/annual results to determine share prices. There would have to be another mechanism for determining price and I haven't figured that out.

Barbara