I was taking part in a economics discussion when it occured to me. One way major projects could be financed could be with the introduction of a Stock Exchange system in SL.
This could be tied in to the new up coming rating and money systems due to be released soon so if you like a place, you can buy stock in it and join a group of sorts (though not a 'Group'), of stock holders. Each who donate and then recieve dividends from money raised by projects.
You could if you want also have a real in-world Stock Exchange Building where players can go watch the markets.. (Pahaps with some nifty cool 3D graphs
) and project owners can setup stock centres in their own land areas to chart their progress and let people buy and sell their stock there.Plus, as mentioned, there could always be access anywhere basic 2D UI interface too it, along with IM updates of rising and falling stocks.
If anyone wants to poke me in game for ideas, feel free (Lindins?
*overly optimistic*). And if you want to start building, even better. ^_^ I'll donate to your cause because building or scripting is still being learnt by moi. 