Countries the world over jockey hard to attract foreign investment. They care about it enough to make it a national priority, to send spies against their competitors, to build infrastructure, and to change laws to make their investment climate attractive. Most know of the economy—developing potential of foreign capital.

The United States itself was developed this way, largely on British capital which built its great railroads, mining ventures, universities and corporations. China is now the giant of this game opf attractring foreign investment, aptly offering favorable business conditions and great opportunities to businesses the world over.

But it's not just the third world, it's highly developed Western Europe, too. I used to play this game aggressively myself when I worked for a European government that's always a good investment bet. And you can find attractive opportunities all over — Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and India are all magnets for investment. A foreign investor has a lot of places to choose from.
 
But then there's always the bozo on the edges who doesn't quite get it the way the rest of the world does. This series of soft—focus photos advertising foreign investment opportunities in Chavez's Venezuela, from Miguel Octavio's excellent blog speaks for itself.
 
A.M. Mora y Leon 01 09 05