The role of capital markets in an economy is derived from their usefulness in several areas, including as a means for gauging the health of the economy. Some of the other roles include the fact that they serve as facilitators for the general growth of the economy through the provision of various means by which businesses and governments may raise needed funds. They also give business-minded people a means for growing their money in the sense that they can utilize this vehicle to invest and gain returns from such investments that will serve them well into the future.
An inclusion in the role of capital markets is the fact that they serve as a facility for channeling money to areas where they are needed the most. For example, an individual might have some money in his or her savings that may have been there for a while. Through the capital market, a person might decide to invest money in the purchase of some stock in a company of his or her choice. Where this is the case, it channels that money into a useful purpose by removing it from the savings and depositing it in the companies that will use it for the execution of projects. As such, these projects will contribute to the growth of the economy at large.
Another role of capital markets is the fact that they give people a means for investing in areas that they may be able to reap from in their later years. There are no guarantees in life, and the capital market is no exception. Most people who invest in stocks and bonds are able to profit from such well-calculated investments even after they may have retired from active employment or work. Sometimes people may miscalculate or other factors may work against their investments, and situations will not work out the way they envisaged; however, this role of capital markets is one that benefits a lot of investors.
A role of capital markets is the fact that it helps companies or governments in the area of raising capital, which would not have been easy without it. Companies are able to issue shares and use whatever they realize from the sale of such shares to continue with their various projects that may include expansions and the purchase of equipment. Even various governments can obtain financing for their projects through this means.