According to Wikipedia, the earliest "joint stock company" was in 1250 in Toulouse. However, businessmen in Song China are known to have set up joint stock companies even earlier. Is there any link or is it independent invention?

by gobberpooper
Ody0genesO

I recently read this article over in /r/economics that you might find interesting.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Economics/comments/3iqsrj/ancient_economics_asian_traders_had_a/?