Assetization is everywhere. Anything that can be owned, and from which benefit can be derived, can be an asset. The value of assets is determined by their potential benefits. Financial and technological developments enable a growing list of things to be assetized, from digital data and land to wine and art.
Understanding assetization is crucial for policy makers because it helps them assess the transformations occurring across a range of sectors, as well as the governance implications of changing systems of valuation and ownership. Assetization matters because it alters who controls societal resources, how those resources are managed and governed, and who benefits or bears the risks. Kean Birch provides insights into assetization and its impact on governance, including the possible threat to national sovereignty.
