speculation

thumb|1914 billboard criticizing speculation on land, which cites Henry George

In finance, speculation is the purchase of an asset (a commodity, goods, or real estate) with the hope that that asset will become more valuable in a brief amount of time. The term can also refer to short sales, in which the speculator hopes for a decline in value. Speculation often has a pejorative connotation, as the activity is linked to bubbles, economic downturns, and financial crises.