If you open a newspaper, browse the internet, or flip on your television, chances are you’ll find coverage of the public markets — even if you aren’t looking for it.

Every day, headlines and push notifications document the intricate movements of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones indices. Every day, earnings are scrutinized, acquisitions are dissected, and management hirings and departures are prominently featured — public markets capture our full attention.

Perhaps that’s a collective oversight. While there’s an inextricable link between the public markets and the economy, the private realm ...