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by analog31 3494 days ago
How does libertarianism deal with shell companies and dumping?

The easiest way would be: No corporations. If the owners of a business are liable for the debts of that business, then they will have much more of an incentive to behave themselves.

Granted, I'm not a libertarian, but I can't see how the concept of corporations (a government entitled class of investors with special privileges) could emerge under libertarianism.
3 comments
angry-hacker 3494 days ago
I'm not a libertarian either but that would kill businesses. Who wants to trade when all possible variables can are ALL of their life. Or maybe there is an insurance :))
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analog31 3494 days ago
I think that without liberal institutions such as corporate regulation and entitlements, and the money system, great ventures such as energy and food distribution, transportation, semiconductors, etc., would be impossible.

Even despite the recent election results, I still have faith that society would not voluntarily accept an ideology that necessitates a cataclysmic drop in prosperity. Thus, a "libertarian" society would probably accept at least a bare minimum number of liberal institutions.

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maxxxxx 3494 days ago
That actually makes sense. Or maybe there should be prison sentences for corporations. If you mess up you are closed for a few years.
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analog31 3494 days ago
My thought is that a corporation would not be an entity. It would simply be a partnership of individuals, so the penalties would fall on the individuals. They could have some sort of a contractual arrangement with one another for things like mutual support if someone sues them.

I also suspect that without corporations, businesses would be a lot smaller, limited to whatever the owners can personally monitor and control.

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maxxxxx 3494 days ago
Makes sense. I just thought if a corporation would be taken out of business for a while instead of just paying a fine as they do now, a corporation couldn't grow very big either because the risk of somebody doing something wrong would be too high. Your approach is probably simpler.
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nommm-nommm 3494 days ago
Good luck getting anyone to ever start a business then.
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