What social purpose do you think is served by the existence of the stock market?

[Yatish]

[Ron H]

it has to be social

[pau]

helps to stir a somewhat dull economy to a robust one

[James]

It determines how much a company is worth and how much a company can raise in the open markets if they need cash.

[exactduke]

Higher standard of living, higher employment, production of consumer goods (via companies on the market), cheaper consumer goods, more varied consumer goods, etc. There are many benefits to a stock market.
North Korea, Cuba, have no stock market. Is their social structure much better there??

[jlf]

A vague question. What is your definition of "social purpose"?

[Queryman]

It is a good and timely question and not at all vague. One of the cornerstones of economic growth is corporate/infrastructure investment. If funds were to be mobilised for economic growth, the corporate entities have to go through the process of finding out what they are worth. This ' price discovery ' can happen only if they are listed in a stock exchange. The market decides who deserves what. So, an entity performing well can raise capital from various sources. So, Where is the social purpose?

Unless there is investment, there can be no growth in terms of the GDP. And when GDP grows at a healthy rate, more jobs are created putting more money into people's hand which in turn stimulates growth. Where does that leaves the underprivileged? The answer is, when the economy grows at a healthy rate, say at 10% per annum, it is bound to have the 'trickle down effect' on the masses thereby improving their living standards.

The only way to alleviate poverty is by economic growth and not by handouts given by the political class to gain votes.

[Katherine]

Stock Market is one of most interesting topic for me

I always want to read all latest news about stock market

After a search i found http://www.newstockslive.com/ with live news

Cheers