What type of businesses involve investors pooling their wealth for a common business purpose?

Joint-stock companies are businesses that involve investors pooling their wealth for a common purpose, which is typically to conduct commercial activities. This structure allows multiple investors to contribute capital while sharing both the risks and the rewards of the enterprise. Joint-stock companies were particularly prevalent in the early days of exploration and colonial establishment, as they enabled groups of people to fund voyages and colonial projects that would have been too risky for a single investor.

In contrast, corporations are more formal entities that can offer shares to the public and are governed by a board of directors. Partnerships involve two or more individuals who manage a business together, sharing profits and liabilities but do not necessarily pool large amounts of investment like a joint-stock company. Trusts involve a fiduciary arrangement where one party holds property for the benefit of another, which differs significantly from the entrepreneurial focus of joint-stock companies.