Although international markets often seem to be on the verge of collapse there is infinite potential for globalization and development the world economy. What convinces us of this scenario is quite straightforward. The worldwide possessors of company shares are a tiny minority in comparison with the totality. Given therefore that the total world population is about 6 billion and that everybody is a potential shareholder, it is easy to grasp that the market to be conquered is enormous and that a financial crisis is far off. Just think. If no more than 10% of the world's population bought a single share in Fiat there would be a deficit in its negotiable shares. And should a similar request reach the Milan stockmarket Fiat's share price would shoot up and reach a level that is many times its real market value.

   The conclusion is obvious. Share capital is a very rare element having unlimited prospects. A brief reflection will show us its potential. Diogenes lived on the indispensable minimum. And he threw away his bowl as soon as he realized that his bare hands were enough for drinking. If as the result of some new fashion or philosophy or such like, people decided - like Diogenes - to give up everything that was not strictly necessary, the world's stockmarkets would collapse immediately because of the fall in value of all existing assets. But exactly the contrary would also be possible. The markets could also rise to incredible highs if only there arose the contrary fashion of buying up every kind of asset and share.

   Should we leave to chance outcomes like these ? Frankly, no. To be sure we cannot allow our international stockmarkets to follow the 'fashion of Diogenes', which would mean self-destruction. We must do everything that is possible to see that the contrary happens. But the classical instruments of finance are inadequate to ensure this happens. Now we need a form of market management. An operating rule guiding capital funds as if they were customers in a supermarket. Management deploying marketing & advertising, as the link between the authorities and millions of people unknown to each other.

   The problem is a commercial, one because our standard of living needs to be promoted as if it were a product. Whoever is capable of solving this one through the appropriate use of marketing techniques will give world markets the measure of development that has so far been a privilege only of consumer goods. Capitalism is not dead at all. But it needs to work out a new approach and above to all build up new management methods at the International Monetary Fund and within single markets. Creating financial resources which at the moment are lacking. Our impotence in respect of so many economic crises has shown how serious is this gap. Currently we have a global market (sometimes summarized as 'globalization') but the international community has neither adequate regulation nor instruments of control. To be sure we are often not without the will to act. And there is also the 'G9'. But the importance of the values at risk now calls for a new approach. That which - precisely - we can call 'political management'. (a.n.)