Final answer:
A joint stock company is a business configuration where investors provide capital and take risks for rewards. It raises money by selling shares to investors who become shareholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
A joint stock company is best described as a business configuration where investors provide capital and take great risks for great rewards. It is a business entity that raises money by selling shares to investors, who then become shareholders.
These shareholders are not legally liable for the actions of the company and can earn large profits if the company is successful. Joint stock companies were popular in the early 1600s, as they provided improved funding for English colonial efforts.