Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused: The Campanile Effect
Great countries inspire, what Americans call patriotism. But on much smaller scales, patriotism gets lost, replaced with rivalry. It might play itself out on a Friday night football game or even when two intrastate colleges play. In Italy, it s called campanilismo.
The reference is to the large bell towers that towns have erected over their rural outposts. These campaniles seem to rise directly to the sky, dominating the cityscape.
These massive, often beautiful works of art, inspire fierce loyalties. But as we leave the corporate bonds, we want to move to a more international offering. The path is much different as anyone who has ventured outside our borders understands: no matter how much you care about your country, the most importance thing you can remember is that you are not at home.
New laws and customers will determine your successes in this new land. BUt with care - and with the tools the book provides, you will do just fine investing overseas, where opportunities might be much more profitable for the wisest investors.
Here are some more pictures of campaniles, the last being the Giotto’s Tower, which dominates the surrounding city of Florence Italy.
