Rethinking National Investment Laws
A study of past and present laws to inform future policy-making
This report uncovers the evolution, functions, and potential of national investment laws. It provides a comprehensive guide for policy-makers to understand and reform these laws to meet challenges such as climate change and global inequality.
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Dive into the evolution of national investment laws from the 1950s to now. Discover how policy objectives and standards have shaped them. #investmentlaws #sustainableinvestment
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Beyond the controlling vs. facilitative distinction, uncover the seven main functions of today's investment laws in our comprehensive report. #investmentlaws
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Looking ahead: Our report offers a practical framework for reforming investment laws to meet future challenges. #investmentlaws #sustainableinvestment #climateaction #SDGs
The report analyzes 70 national investment laws across the world and proposes a new framework for understanding domestic investment legislation, based on seven key functions of these laws identified in our research.
On July 27, 2023, the authors and leading experts discussed the report's key findings and recommendations, watch the webinar here.
Rethinking National Investment Laws is a must-read for policy-makers aiming to design investment laws that meet their country's specific needs and policy objectives, as well as anyone interested in the dynamics of national and international investment governance.
In 2026, we published a complementary policy brief unpacking dispute resolution through national investment laws—one of the seven functions identified in our flagship report—in more detail and proposing policy steps to support governments' efforts to establish fair investor-state dispute resolution in their jurisdictions.
Participating experts
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