All firms must initially acquire command
over some resources. The corporation
does so primarily by selling promises
of future returns to those who (as creditors
or owners) provide financial capital. In
some situations resources can be acquired
in advance from consumers by promises
of future delivery (for example, advance
sale of a proposed book). Or where the
firm is a few artistic or professional persons,
each can "chip in" with time and
talent until the sale of services brings in
revenues. For the most part, capital can
be acquired more cheaply if many (riskaverse)
investors contribute small portions
to a large investment. The economies
of raising large sums of equity capital in
this way suggest that modifications in the
relationship among corporate inputs are
required to cope with the shirking problem
that arises with profit sharing among large
numbers of corporate stockholders. One
modification is limited liability, especially
for firms that are large relative to a stockholder's
wealth. It serves to protect stockholders
from large losses no matter how
they are caused.