In the global world, there are countries that are better than others for sales of products which you as an investor own. In recent memory, the market in South Africa was one of those countries – there are many people, including a relatively wealthy white population. The black population was titled towards less than middle class. Within the country, opportunities were to be found, but as a government run apartheid run system, does the profits justify being there? Over the last number of years South Africa has transformed to be a country where competitive markets have developed and all people have a chance to make a decent living in it. The apartheid system developed over the years and people like Steven Biko helped change it. In the 1987 movie Cry Freedom starring Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline, the beginning of the end of apartheid was happening. The character played by Kevin Kline – a publisher of a newspaper could not longer support the brutal aspects of apartheid and helped bring a end to it. Thankfully a leader such as Nelson Mandela came to power and the transition while not perfect was better than most countries.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, in the global economy what happens around the world is important. For many it will be similar to South Africa, for years western countries had dealings with the country and then leadership changes and the end is seen, but for years it was okay. Having a diversified portfolio around the world makes perfect sense and good strategy; but it comes with the provision of a global citizen and one day – it will be in the newspapers, something will have changed. If the company tries to be a good global citizen with a long record of doing good, then having operations around the world can be a wonderful strategy.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions