[mc32]

You could also argue that losing out economically has significant impact on a nation and its people. While national financial institutions are rethinking the focus on finance as a focus of the economy, it's not by happenstance London, New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, HK, etc. pursued being financial hubs.

They were keystones in their respective economies and thus just as integral to national physical defense.

[lentil_soup]

well this is a private company, no? Not really of much impact to a whole nation

[atemerev]

Nation is the sum of private individuals and companies.