The Idea That Changed Who Gets to Build Wealth
In 1602, a baker and a harbour worker stood in line to buy a piece of something that had never existed before. That moment created a structure that has been building ordinary people’s wealth for over 400 years. This article traces the idea from Amsterdam to the railroads, through Apple and Amazon, to the largest IPO in history, and finishes with the habits that have consistently separated people who benefit from public markets and people who watch from the sidelines.