Ivar Krueger was ahead of his time.

http://www.ericssonhistory.net/templates/Ericsson/Article.aspx?id=2083&ArticleID=1283&CatID=357&epslanguage=EN (ALMOST LIKE THE CHINESE SURPLUS FUNDING U.S. MORTGAGES) The general public in Sweden, and especially the United States, gladly invested large sums of money in Kreuger shares. He promised rapidly rising share prices and high dividends as a result of the expansion of his empire... [more]

http://www.ericssonhistory.net/templates/Ericsson/Article.aspx?id=2083&ArticleID=1283&CatID=357&epslanguage=EN (ALMOST LIKE THE CHINESE SURPLUS FUNDING U.S. MORTGAGES) The general public in Sweden, and especially the United States, gladly invested large sums of money in Kreuger shares. He promised rapidly rising share prices and high dividends as a result of the expansion of his empire that was based on constantly forging new agreements that granted him a monopoly on match manufacturing. This monopoly was often granted in exchange for large loans to a long list of countries. To obtain funds for lending, Kreuger had to sell new share issues, which in turn required believing in his promises. Kreuger exploited the fact that there was a surplus of capital in the US, which could be transferred to European governments that needed cash. He became an important player in the international capital markets, and was the first, and perhaps the only Swede to have that role. [less]