Market Forces

Market Forces is a science fiction novel by Richard Morgan, first published in 2004. Set in 2049, it follows up and coming executive Chris as he plunges into the profitable field of Conflict Investment. Major corporations invest in rebel armies, totalitarian dictatorships, freedom fighters, and terrorists by selling weapons and services in exchange for a percentage of a state's GNP.

The potential for profit is immense, and competition is cut-throat. It's not enough to out-bid a competitor; rival executives joust for the privilege on public roadways via armoured cars or "battle-wagons". This fiercely competitive business model is bloody but effective: surviving executives are by natural selection more cunning and aggressive than their fallen competitors, and therefore best suited for the job.

'Market Forces' is also the title of another novel, by Bruce Cairnduff. Cairnduff's novel is a thriller set against the economic backdrop of the e-commerce bubble at the end of the 1990's. It is the story of Martin Duffy, an investment banker turned aspiring internet entrepreneur, whose online venture is on the brink of financial success. The company falls under the control of a questionable venture capital fund with an alternative agenda. The competing agendas, and the sums of money involved eventually lead to violence and murder.