Investors Play a Crucial Role in the Economy | StreetFins® (2024)

Society loathes the investor, and it’s quite clear why. They seem to profit off pure luck and others’ hard work. Very tellingly, their income legally unearned. Additionally, their irresponsibility and greed caused the Great Depression and the Great Recession. That resulted in a fervent anti-Wall Street movement. But in reality, they actually render a great service to the economy.

Crucial to Company Growth

The most fundamental job of the investor is to select the companies and industries that, he or she thinks, have great potential. While this seems to contribute nothing to the economy, it actually funds worthy startups that grow the economy and increase the quality of life. Startups usually don’t have a large amount of cash in the bank. That prevents them from growing or even staying afloat. But these startups can remedy their cash-flow problem by selling stocks or bonds of the company.

To whom can they sell these seemingly risky securities? Investors, of course. Only the investor has the money and willingness to back these potentially invaluable startups, and the practice of relying on funding from investors is ubiquitous. Facebook, Google, Snapchat, and essentially every major tech company have raised the funds needed to run their company this way, and undoubtedly their products have benefitted us as well as the investors.

Crucial to Banking

Investors also make banking possible. We take for granted the ability to store your wealth in a bank and earn interest on it. But banks can only carry out this function by employing investors. Investors take the money you and I store in the bank and invest it so as to make enough revenue to pay the interest and make a profit. If banks had no investing sector, they would be unable to store and grow our wealth. As a result, they would either not exist or exist only as a branch of government. This would prevent the current institutions we have which facilitate our everyday lives.

Investors Play a Crucial Role in the Economy | StreetFins® (2)

What investors do with the money in the bank also benefits us. They take that money and invest it back into the community by issuing loans. These loans go to businesses who use that money to start up their company. These loans also go to normal people who use that money to invest in their lives — by building a house or buying a car. They stimulate the economy and increase the GDP. Thus, a small change in the supply of money can change the total GDP drastically through investors re-investing the money whenever it’s put in a bank. This function of investing is so pronounced that macroeconomics has a word to describe it: the money multiplier effect.

Crucial to Public Policy

Furthermore, investors are critical to the economic policy of the government. The government’s monetary policy relies on its ability to control the money supply, utilizing three methods: changing the discount rate, changing the reserve ratio, and open market operations. The discount rate is the rate at which banks can borrow from the Federal Reserve. The reserve ratio is the ratio of the deposits banks must keep in their vaults Open market operations are buying and selling securities, mainly government bonds, in the financial market. While the first doesn’t directly deal with investors, the second and third do. Investors enact the re-investing of money in banks, as described above, and the purchase and sale of bonds. So essentially, they carry out monetary policy.

Investors Play a Crucial Role in the Economy | StreetFins® (3)

Interestingly enough, the operational function probably isn’t the most important role the investors serve to public policy, for they also help direct the policy itself. The past three chief economic advisers to the president were investors before they stepped into the public arena. The news is filled with investors giving their take on the current economic policy and how it will affect the stability and growth of the economy. They criticize when criticism is needed and praise when praising is warranted. They are the indicators for public policy. When they get giddy, the politicians worry.

Final Thoughts

Investors, to the eye of the outside observer, seem to contribute little to society. But, as I’ve attempted to show, they actually serve a crucial role in the economy. Investors give companies limitless growth opportunities that they would lack without investment. They help facilitate the flow of funds to those who need it and uphold the institutions of banking. Investors promote monetarily and fiscally smart policies while questioning those that are not. Truly, we would all be poorer without the investor.

Investors Play a Crucial Role in the Economy | StreetFins® (2024)

FAQs

Why are investors important to the economy? ›

Investment adds to the stock of capital, and the quantity of capital available to an economy is a crucial determinant of its productivity. Investment thus contributes to economic growth.

What is the role of investment in the economy? ›

Investment therefore affects the economy's potential output and thus its standard of living in the long run. Investment is a component of aggregate demand. Changes in investment shift the aggregate demand curve and thus change real GDP and the price level in the short run.

What is the role of an investor an important part of the economy? ›

They contribute capital to companies in exchange for ownership or debt instruments. This infusion of funds allows businesses to invest in research and development, purchase new equipment, hire additional employees, and overall, stimulate economic growth. Investors also help to allocate resources efficiently.

Why is it important to invest in the economy? ›

Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return tradeoff.

Why are investors important? ›

Investors play a crucial role in providing the much-needed financial support to bring your startup ideas to life. But beyond just money, they can also provide valuable insights, mentorship, and connections that can help your business grow and succeed.

What is the role of the investor? ›

An investor is a person or organization that provides capital with the expectation of earning a return on their investment. Investors assume the risk that a venture may fail and are compensated in the form of a return if they are successful.

How can investments have a positive effect on the economy? ›

A company that buys a new manufacturing plant or invests in new technologies creates jobs and spending, which leads to growth in the economy. Other factors help promote consumer and business spending and prosperity. Banks, for example, lend money to companies and consumers.

Why is investing important? ›

Investing can bring you many benefits, such as helping to give you more financial independence. As savings held in cash will tend to lose value because inflation reduces their buying power over time, investing can help to protect the value of your money as the cost of living rises.

Why is investing important in an economy quizlet? ›

Investing is essential to the free enterprise system. - It promotes economic growth and contributes to a nation's wealth.

What is the main goal of an investor? ›

There are three main objectives in successful investing: safety, income, and growth. The more prominence one has, the lesser the other two will have. SAFETY: It's the primary objective investors usually want.

What do investors look for in an economy? ›

Many investors, especially those who invest primarily in fixed-income securities, are concerned about inflation. Current inflation, how strong it is, and what it could be in the future are all vital in determining prevailing interest rates and investing strategies.

Why is investors in people important? ›

The end result of being an Investor in People is to ensure that what employees can and are motivated to do, matches what the organisation needs them to do. Investors in People is a cyclical process and should lead to a culture of continuous improvement.

What role does investment play in the economy? ›

Capital investment allows for research and development, a first step to taking new products and services to the market. Additional or improved capital goods increase labor productivity by making companies more efficient. Newer equipment or factories lead to more products being produced at a faster rate.

Why is economics important to investors? ›

Economics can also help investors understand the potential ramifications of national policy and events on business conditions. Understanding economics can give investors the tools to predict macroeconomic conditions and understand the implications of those predictions on companies, stocks, and financial markets.

Why should investors invest in you? ›

First, you'll need to demonstrate that there is a large market opportunity for your product or service. Second, you'll need to show that your company has a competitive advantage in this market - that is, you have something that gives you an edge over other companies offering similar products or services.

How do investors contribute to society? ›

They take that money and invest it back into the community by issuing loans. These loans go to businesses who use that money to start up their company. These loans also go to normal people who use that money to invest in their lives — by building a house or buying a car. They stimulate the economy and increase the GDP.

Why is investor confidence important for the economy? ›

When investor confidence is high, it can have a significant impact on economic growth. This is because optimistic investors are more inclined to invest their capital into businesses and projects. These investments often result in the expansion of businesses and the creation of new job opportunities.

How do investment companies help the economy? ›

They help companies go public and underwrite bond offerings. Investment banks help the broader financial markets and the economy by matching sellers and investors. The banks make financial development more efficient and promote business growth, which in turn helps the economy.

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