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Subjects 2009


International Economic Law 732720

Objectives

This subject is the premier overview course offered by the Law School in the field of international economic law. It is designed both as a comprehensive introduction in its own right to this important field, as well as a foundation for further exploration through specialist subjects in the curriculum.

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Be able to identify the key areas of international economic law, including the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO), international investment law and the practices of international financial institutions (International Monetary Fund and World Bank)
  • Be familiar with the major forms of dispute settlement in the field (including the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding and the International Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes) and their similarities and differences
  • Have a critical understanding of current controversies surrounding the impact of international economic law on various aspects of state sovereignty (including development strategies).
Syllabus

Principal topics will include:

  • Nature, evolution and context of international economic law
  • The law of the WTO
  • Dispute settlement in the WTO
  • International investment law
  • Investor-state arbitration under the ICSID Convention
  • International financial institutions (particularly the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank)
  • International economic law and development.