Corporate entities should have a forced maximum lifespan

[Hyena]

From evolution it is known that individuals must die so that the species could evolve. This is why we are not immortal. It is important for the older generations to die because otherwise they hold the resources for themselves and it becomes extremely difficult for new generations to become successful.

Same logic should be applied to corporate entities such as Coca Cola and what not. They should forcefully be exterminated after 100 years of existence, all their assets being redistributed between new firms and startups. My corpse will some day rot and turn into soil so that new life can use it for building blocks. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Ford and other big and long lived corporations should be forced to die in a similar manner.

Any takers?

A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

[zimmah]

such a law would likely be abused in a massive way anyway

[wasserman99]

From evolution it is known that individuals must die so that the species could evolve. This is why we are not immortal. It is important for the older generations to die because otherwise they hold the resources for themselves and it becomes extremely difficult for new generations to become successful.

Same logic should be applied to corporate entities such as Coca Cola and what not. They should forcefully be exterminated after 100 years of existence, all their assets being redistributed between new firms and startups. My corpse will some day rot and turn into soil so that new life can use it for building blocks. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Ford and other big and long lived corporations should be forced to die in a similar manner.

Any takers?

A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

This makes no sense. First of all, accounting rules are that a company must be a going concern in order for it's books to be accurate. A "going concern" is something that is expected to be able to stay in business "forever" based on the current environment.

Secondly why should new businesses get to leach off of the success of other people's good ideas? If a business is forced to shut down after a certain time then they would be forced to sell their assets at below market prices as they would be at a disadvantage, and could not wait for an appropriate price (what you describe in the OP is actually less fair as you imply that the assets should simply be given to newer businesses).

[giveBTCpls]

The guys that will inherit a life of not needing to work a single day of their lives thanks to being form within the cocacola, ford etc families, will disagree with you.

[oceans]

Really can not see how this would work to be honest or may be it's just me. I can not see how you can take a group of companies, exterminate them and create new and expect them to be a success.

[twiifm]

Logans Run for business?

[shockinglyugly]

Really can not see how this would work to be honest or may be it's just me. I can not see how you can take a group of companies, exterminate them and create new and expect them to be a success.

This is true. The vast majority of businesses will fail within 5 years. If you make it so that companies cannot last more then 100 years then you will only discourage smart people from starting a business with the hopes of passing it along to their family for generations

[countryfree]

Big corporations do die. I once had a Pontiac car and a Compaq computer. Both are gone. I agree that some corporations are very good at perpetuating themselves, but times are changing, and I'll be happy to see BTC kill Western Union and Paypal.

Countries should die too. Yugoslavia died recently, I'd like to see all countries disappear.

[Hyena]

Big corporations do die. I once had a Pontiac car and a Compaq computer. Both are gone. I agree that some corporations are very good at perpetuating themselves, but times are changing, and I'll be happy to see BTC kill Western Union and Paypal.

Countries should die too. Yugoslavia died recently, I'd like to see all countries disappear.

That's a good one of course countries should die too! That might be even more important than the corporations extermination.

But generally, I can now see why this forced extermination is not required --- people who run these businesses are not immortal. They will die, and this gives chance to newer generations. But of course, inheritance pretty much ruins it.

<tinfoil hat>
Some alien species consider soul as the true inheritance receiver. If an alien ruler dies, its soul is caught and put into one of its children. The child's soul is taken away and stored until the ruler gets another child which needs that soul.
</tinfoil hat>

[spazzdla]

Does not matter they are owned and controlled by private investors...  90% of companies are public... owned by investors who do not have to inform anyone how much they own and of what..

It should be public who owns what shares and how many.. Even more so for the holders of the central banks..

The odds are.. like 9/10 that several families own 80% of everything.

[DodoriousMaximus]

Of course a couple families own everything, the system is rigged

[mnmShadyBTC]

Does not matter they are owned and controlled by private investors...  90% of companies are public... owned by investors who do not have to inform anyone how much they own and of what..

It should be public who owns what shares and how many.. Even more so for the holders of the central banks..

The odds are.. like 9/10 that several families own 80% of everything.

Generally speaking 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the richest people. You are however correct to say that investors control companies and should not be punished just because a company has been around for a long time.

[spazzdla]

Does not matter they are owned and controlled by private investors...  90% of companies are public... owned by investors who do not have to inform anyone how much they own and of what..

It should be public who owns what shares and how many.. Even more so for the holders of the central banks..

The odds are.. like 9/10 that several families own 80% of everything.

Generally speaking 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the richest people. You are however correct to say that investors control companies and should not be punished just because a company has been around for a long time.

Being born into 10 Trillion dollars should not enable you to buy up 100 companies and earn massive money from all their work.

[hayek]

This is an incredibly horrible idea

[odolvlobo]

Problems with corporations won't be fixed by creating arbitrary laws and restrictions. The right way to fix a problem is to fix the problem. Laws like the one proposed here will only create more problems than they try to solve.

[romneymoney]

It's an interesting thought exercise, but I think enforcing something like that is in the fantasy realm.  It seems similar to the concept of copyright, which we have been crapping on for a long time now. 

[snappa4ever]

Does not matter they are owned and controlled by private investors...  90% of companies are public... owned by investors who do not have to inform anyone how much they own and of what..

It should be public who owns what shares and how many.. Even more so for the holders of the central banks..

The odds are.. like 9/10 that several families own 80% of everything.

Generally speaking 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the richest people. You are however correct to say that investors control companies and should not be punished just because a company has been around for a long time.

Being born into 10 Trillion dollars should not enable you to buy up 100 companies and earn massive money from all their work.

Being able to earn money off of the backs of other is what capitalism is about. If you do not invest in your workers and machines that your workers use then the workers and your suppliers will not be able to earn a living nor have any kind of standard of living. In return for this investment you should get some kind of return.

[RobFordWotWot]

McDonalds will be on Pluto by 2045.

[itsAj]

Big corporations do die. I once had a Pontiac car and a Compaq computer. Both are gone. I agree that some corporations are very good at perpetuating themselves, but times are changing, and I'll be happy to see BTC kill Western Union and Paypal.

Countries should die too. Yugoslavia died recently, I'd like to see all countries disappear.

Some companies will die off because they are unable to adapt to an evolving marketplace. Some will succeed because they can continue to innovate and lead in their respective industries. This does not mean that every company should be forced to die after a certain amount of time.

[GangkisKhan]

Cooperate entities do have a lifespan. Most eventually died off in less than a century, and rarely do any survive more than 3-4 decades.