Thorsten Beck (Tilburg - Economics) has a new paper worth reading on Legal Institutions and Economic Development.
ABSTRACT: Legal institutions are critical for the development of market-based economies. This paper defines legal institutions and discusses different indicators to measure their quality and efficiency. It surveys a large historical and empirical literature showing the importance of legal institutions in explaining cross-country variation in economic development. Finally, it presents and discusses three different views of why we can observe the large cross-country variation in legal institutions, the social conflict, the legal origin and the culture and religion hypotheses.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Law and Pluralism in Asia: Exploring Dynamics of Reflection, Reinforcement, and Resistance
North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation presents
Law and Pluralism in Asia: Exploring Dynamics of Reflection, Reinforcement, and Resistance
Friday, January 14, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Kenan-Flagler Business School, Kenan Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Register for the 2011 Symposium
In recent years, Asian societies have experienced a growth in heterogeneity. Due to economic developments, there has been increased intraregional migration that redefines local demographics. For example, economic forces have driven migrant workers from Southeast Asia to resettle in parts of East Asia. Workers have also been migrating to Asia from other parts of the world. State policies have promoted this migration. For example, jurisdictions such as Singapore and Hong Kong have sought to attract educated "creative class" workers from all around the world. Finally, there has also been increasing diversity due to empowerment of local minority groups. The growing political legibility of gays and lesbians in Asia is but one example of this development. States in Asia have been instituting legal reforms to address these changing dynamics. This symposium explores these sociolegal changes, examining how, in different ways, the law reflects, reinforces, and resists pluralism in Asia.
The keynote address will be given by Madhavi Sunder, 2006 Carnegie Scholar and professor of law at the University of California-Davis School of Law.
Confirmed symposium panelists include:
Kelley Loper, University of Hong Kong
Puja Kapai, University of Hong Kong
Wen-chen Chang, National Taiwan University
David Law, Washington University in St. Louis
Illhyung Lee, University of Missouri
Apichai Shipper, University of Southern California
Timothy Webster, Yale University
Anil Kalhan, Drexel University
Carl Minzner, Washington University in St. Louis
Jeffrey Redding, St. Louis University School of Law
Meredith Weiss, University of Albany
Hyunah Yang, Seoul National University
Law and Pluralism in Asia: Exploring Dynamics of Reflection, Reinforcement, and Resistance
Friday, January 14, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Kenan-Flagler Business School, Kenan Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Register for the 2011 Symposium
In recent years, Asian societies have experienced a growth in heterogeneity. Due to economic developments, there has been increased intraregional migration that redefines local demographics. For example, economic forces have driven migrant workers from Southeast Asia to resettle in parts of East Asia. Workers have also been migrating to Asia from other parts of the world. State policies have promoted this migration. For example, jurisdictions such as Singapore and Hong Kong have sought to attract educated "creative class" workers from all around the world. Finally, there has also been increasing diversity due to empowerment of local minority groups. The growing political legibility of gays and lesbians in Asia is but one example of this development. States in Asia have been instituting legal reforms to address these changing dynamics. This symposium explores these sociolegal changes, examining how, in different ways, the law reflects, reinforces, and resists pluralism in Asia.
The keynote address will be given by Madhavi Sunder, 2006 Carnegie Scholar and professor of law at the University of California-Davis School of Law.
Confirmed symposium panelists include:
Kelley Loper, University of Hong Kong
Puja Kapai, University of Hong Kong
Wen-chen Chang, National Taiwan University
David Law, Washington University in St. Louis
Illhyung Lee, University of Missouri
Apichai Shipper, University of Southern California
Timothy Webster, Yale University
Anil Kalhan, Drexel University
Carl Minzner, Washington University in St. Louis
Jeffrey Redding, St. Louis University School of Law
Meredith Weiss, University of Albany
Hyunah Yang, Seoul National University
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
The (Indispensable) Middle Class in Developing Countries; or, the Rich and the Rest, Not the Poor and the Rest
Nancy Birdsall at the Center for Global Development has an interesting new paper The (Indispensable) Middle Class in Developing Countries; or, the Rich and the Rest, Not the Poor and the Rest.
ABSTRACT: Inclusive growth is widely embraced as the central economic goal for developing countries, but the concept is not well defined in the development economics literature. Since the early 1990s, the focus has been primarily on pro-poor growth, with the “poor” being people living on less than $1 day, or in some regions $2 day. The idea of pro-poor growth emerged in the early 1990s as a counterpoint to a concern with growth alone (measured in per-capita income) and is generally defined as growth which benefits the poor as much or more than the rest of the population. Examples include conditional cash transfers, which target the poor while minimizing the fiscal burden on the public sector, and donors’ emphasizing primary over higher education as an assured way to benefit the poor while investing in long-term growth through increases in human capital. Yet these pro-poor, inclusive policies are not necessarily without tradeoffs in fostering long-run growth. In this paper I argue that the concept of inclusive growth should go beyond the traditional emphasis on the poor (and the rest) and take into account changes in the size and economic command of the group conventionally defined as neither poor nor rich, i.e., the middle class.
ABSTRACT: Inclusive growth is widely embraced as the central economic goal for developing countries, but the concept is not well defined in the development economics literature. Since the early 1990s, the focus has been primarily on pro-poor growth, with the “poor” being people living on less than $1 day, or in some regions $2 day. The idea of pro-poor growth emerged in the early 1990s as a counterpoint to a concern with growth alone (measured in per-capita income) and is generally defined as growth which benefits the poor as much or more than the rest of the population. Examples include conditional cash transfers, which target the poor while minimizing the fiscal burden on the public sector, and donors’ emphasizing primary over higher education as an assured way to benefit the poor while investing in long-term growth through increases in human capital. Yet these pro-poor, inclusive policies are not necessarily without tradeoffs in fostering long-run growth. In this paper I argue that the concept of inclusive growth should go beyond the traditional emphasis on the poor (and the rest) and take into account changes in the size and economic command of the group conventionally defined as neither poor nor rich, i.e., the middle class.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
1st African Conference on Int’l Commercial Law - Douala, Cameroon
The University of Basel in Switzerland and the University of Buea in Cameroon, with the support of UNCITRAL (United Nation Commission on International Trade Law) and OHADA (Organisation for the Harmonised Business Law in Africa) are organising an international conference entitled “The 1st African Conference on International Commercial Law.” The Conference will be held in Douala, Cameroon, Jan. 13-14, 2011. The Conference will focus on topics related to international sales law, international arbitration and unification of general contract law.
During this conference early career researchers also have the opportunity to present recent research papers relating to the topics of the conference. Early career researchers interested in submitting abstracts are invited to do so before Oct. 1, 2010. The abstract should be submitted as a word or pdf document with 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing and should not exceed 1500 words. The abstract should be sent via email to Jeanalain.Penda [at] unibas.ch. A jury of established academics will select the successful eight abstracts. The researchers of the selected abstracts will be given 10 minutes to present their papers during the “Early Career Researchers Panel.” The travel and accommodation expenses of the selected candidates will be covered.
Who is an Early Career Researcher?
Early Career Researchers are people who are within two years of the start of their research careers when submitting their abstract. They should be currently undertaking a dissertation, Ph.D. thesis or the like, or have received a doctoral degree not earlier than 2008.
For additional information please contact:
Jean Alain Penda at Jeanalain.Penda [at] unibas.ch or
Stephanie Wassem at Stephanie.Wassem [at] unibas.ch
During this conference early career researchers also have the opportunity to present recent research papers relating to the topics of the conference. Early career researchers interested in submitting abstracts are invited to do so before Oct. 1, 2010. The abstract should be submitted as a word or pdf document with 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing and should not exceed 1500 words. The abstract should be sent via email to Jeanalain.Penda [at] unibas.ch. A jury of established academics will select the successful eight abstracts. The researchers of the selected abstracts will be given 10 minutes to present their papers during the “Early Career Researchers Panel.” The travel and accommodation expenses of the selected candidates will be covered.
Who is an Early Career Researcher?
Early Career Researchers are people who are within two years of the start of their research careers when submitting their abstract. They should be currently undertaking a dissertation, Ph.D. thesis or the like, or have received a doctoral degree not earlier than 2008.
For additional information please contact:
Jean Alain Penda at Jeanalain.Penda [at] unibas.ch or
Stephanie Wassem at Stephanie.Wassem [at] unibas.ch
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Law and Development Institute Inaugural Conference
The Law and Development Institute (LDI) is an international academic network established as a non-profit research institution in Sydney, Australia, with an objective of promoting law and development studies and projects. Law and development concerns the impacts of law on economic and social development, and the LDI aims to become an international centre for law and development studies.
Law and development studies concern the impact of international and domestic legal orders on economic development, which has become increasingly relevant to our economic lives due to the rapid globalization that has taken place in the recent decades. Law and development issues have become a subject of considerable attention in the recent Doha Round negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to international trade law. The Doha Round was suspended because of the large gaps between the developed and developing countries in their positions on key international trade law and development issues. There are also many unresolved issues about the role of domestic laws and regulations as well as international law in economic development.
The LDI addresses those issues and seeks to help find solutions to poverty issues around the world by clarifying the impact that law has on economic development. Currently a number of preeminent scholars and professionals from several countries, includng the United States, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, Australia, Korea, Israel, and Singapore, are participating in the LDI.
LDI will be hosting its innagural conference, which will focus on trade issues.
Morning Session: Panel presentation I
Chair
Speakers
Professor Gary Horlick, former Head of U.S. Department of Commerce Import Administration
Professor Jai Sheen Mah, Ewha Womans University
"Law and Development in Korea: A Success Story"
Professor Jiangyu Wang, National University of Singapore
"Law and Development in China: Present and Future"
Dr. Salim Farrar, University of Sydney
"Law and Development in the Islam World: New Possibilities"
Dr. Malcolm Cook, Lowe Institute for International Policy
"Strategic Dimensions of National Development: Case of East Asia"
Afternoon Session: Panel presentation II
Chair
Speakers
Dr. Salim Farrar, University of Sydney
Professor Gary Horlick, former Head of U.S. Department of Commerce Import Administration
"The Future of the World Trade Organization: From Development Perspectives"
Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
"Theoretical Basis and Regulatory Framework for Microtrade: Combining Volunteerism with
International Trade towards Poverty Elimination"
Professor Won-Mog Choi, Ewha Womans University
"WTO Rules and Agricultural Development Cooperation between Developed and Developing
Countries"
Professor Colin Picker, University of New South Wales
"International Trade and Development Law: A Legal Cultural Critique"
Afternoon Session: Panel presentation III
Chair
Speakers
Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
Professor Mitsuo Matsushita, University of Tokyo and former WTO Appellate Body member
"Positions of Developing Countries in Free Trade Agreements"
Professor Maureen Irish, University of Windsor
"Special and Differential Treatment, Trade and Sustainable Development"
Professor Andrew Mitchell, University of Melbourne
"The Development Aspect of Trade & Health"
Dr. Tomer Broude, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Settling International Development Disputes through Conciliation"
Law and development studies concern the impact of international and domestic legal orders on economic development, which has become increasingly relevant to our economic lives due to the rapid globalization that has taken place in the recent decades. Law and development issues have become a subject of considerable attention in the recent Doha Round negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to international trade law. The Doha Round was suspended because of the large gaps between the developed and developing countries in their positions on key international trade law and development issues. There are also many unresolved issues about the role of domestic laws and regulations as well as international law in economic development.
The LDI addresses those issues and seeks to help find solutions to poverty issues around the world by clarifying the impact that law has on economic development. Currently a number of preeminent scholars and professionals from several countries, includng the United States, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, Australia, Korea, Israel, and Singapore, are participating in the LDI.
LDI will be hosting its innagural conference, which will focus on trade issues.
Morning Session: Panel presentation I
Chair
Speakers
Professor Gary Horlick, former Head of U.S. Department of Commerce Import Administration
Professor Jai Sheen Mah, Ewha Womans University
"Law and Development in Korea: A Success Story"
Professor Jiangyu Wang, National University of Singapore
"Law and Development in China: Present and Future"
Dr. Salim Farrar, University of Sydney
"Law and Development in the Islam World: New Possibilities"
Dr. Malcolm Cook, Lowe Institute for International Policy
"Strategic Dimensions of National Development: Case of East Asia"
Afternoon Session: Panel presentation II
Chair
Speakers
Dr. Salim Farrar, University of Sydney
Professor Gary Horlick, former Head of U.S. Department of Commerce Import Administration
"The Future of the World Trade Organization: From Development Perspectives"
Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
"Theoretical Basis and Regulatory Framework for Microtrade: Combining Volunteerism with
International Trade towards Poverty Elimination"
Professor Won-Mog Choi, Ewha Womans University
"WTO Rules and Agricultural Development Cooperation between Developed and Developing
Countries"
Professor Colin Picker, University of New South Wales
"International Trade and Development Law: A Legal Cultural Critique"
Afternoon Session: Panel presentation III
Chair
Speakers
Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
Professor Mitsuo Matsushita, University of Tokyo and former WTO Appellate Body member
"Positions of Developing Countries in Free Trade Agreements"
Professor Maureen Irish, University of Windsor
"Special and Differential Treatment, Trade and Sustainable Development"
Professor Andrew Mitchell, University of Melbourne
"The Development Aspect of Trade & Health"
Dr. Tomer Broude, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Settling International Development Disputes through Conciliation"
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Brain Drain Taxation as Development Policy
My colleague Yariv Brauner has a forthcoming article titled Brain Drain Taxation as Development Policy.
ABSTRACT: This article examines the potential use of taxation to generate development funds in connection with the immigration of skilled immigrants from developing into developed countries, known as the "brain drain," if designed according to the principles of the new development agenda. It explains that a tax on the brain drain that has been discussed for several decades, yet considered impossible to administer, may be administratively and legally implementable within the framework of the current international tax regime. It argues that designing such a tax according to the principles of the new development agenda, tying together the collection and use of the revenue functions, is essential for the tax to be justifiable and effective. The article proceeds to set the parameters for its design.
ABSTRACT: This article examines the potential use of taxation to generate development funds in connection with the immigration of skilled immigrants from developing into developed countries, known as the "brain drain," if designed according to the principles of the new development agenda. It explains that a tax on the brain drain that has been discussed for several decades, yet considered impossible to administer, may be administratively and legally implementable within the framework of the current international tax regime. It argues that designing such a tax according to the principles of the new development agenda, tying together the collection and use of the revenue functions, is essential for the tax to be justifiable and effective. The article proceeds to set the parameters for its design.
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