LDI's major publication project, a book entitled "Law and Development Perspective on International Trade Law" has been published by Cambridge University Press (CUP).
This book provides a ground-breaking discussion of major international trade law issues from the perspective of development. This book, edited by four LDI members, offers an unparalleled breadth of coverage on the topic and diversity of authorship, as seventeen leading scholars contribute chapters from nine major developed and developing countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Israel.
For further details of the book, see the CUP website at
http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6441761/?site_locale=en_GB.
The 2011 LDI Conference shapes up. Eithteen preeminent scholars from nine countries, including USA, Canada, U.K., Korea, Japan, Thailand, India, Singapore, and Australia, are scheduled to make presentations in accordance with the following tentative program. The Conference will be held at Seattle University School of Law (Student Center, "LeRoux Room") on December 10, 2011.
Law and Development at the Microlevel: From Microtrade to Current Issues in Law and Development (Conference Program)
8:30 – 9:00 Reception and Registration
9:00 – 9:10 Opening remark by Professor Y.S. Lee, Director of the Law and Development Institute
9:10 – 9:20 Welcome speech by Professor Mark Niles, Dean, Seattle University School of Law
9:20 – 9:30 Keynote speech by Professor Antonio Garcia-Padilla, former President, University of Puerto Rico
Panel Presentation
9:30-11:00 Microtrade I
Chair: Professor David Gantz, University of Arizona School of Law
Speakers:
Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
“Microtrade: An Overview”
Professor Farid Shirazi, Ryerson University, Canada
“Canada: Virtual Bazaar: An E-Commerce Model to help Microtrade in Least Developed Countries”
Dr. Arpita Gupta, Jindal Global Law School, India
“International Microtrade Regime – Structure and Financing”
Professor Andreas Neef, Kyoto University, Japan
“Community-Based Microtrade in Support of Small-Scale Farmers in Thailand and Tanzania”
11:00-11:15 Coffee Break
11:15-12:30 Microtrade II
Chair: Professor Y.S. Lee, The Law and Development Institute
Speakers:
Professor Jae Min Lee, Ewha Woman’s University, Korea
“Microtrade as Reflected in DDA”
Professor Colin Picker, University of New South Wales, Australia
“Microtrade and the Legal Cultural Considerations”
Dr. Prapanpong Khumon, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand
“Microtrade and the Fair Trade Movement”
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch break
Afternoon Sessions
1:30 – 3:20 Investment and Development Finance
Chair: Professor Caf Dowlah, City University of New York
Speakers:
Professor Sophie Smyth, Temple University School of Law
“Multilateral Development Finance”
Professor Christine Hurt, University of Illinois School of Law
“Securitization, Reckless Credit and Systemic Risk: Microfinance Meets Bubble Regulation”
Professor David Gantz, University of Arizona School of Law
“Investor-State Conflicts for Developing Countries”
Professor Perry Bechky, Seattle University School of Law
“Microinvestment Disputes”
Professor Jiangyu Wang, National University of Singapore, Singapore
“Regulating Investment and Financial Liberalization”
3:20 – 3:35 Coffee break
3:35 – 5:50 Least-Developed Countries
Chair: Professor Colin Picker, University of New South Wales School of Law, Australia
Speakers:
Professor Maureen Irish, University of Windsor School of Law, Canada
“Climate Change and LDCs”
Professor Alan Tomkins, U.S. State Department and University of Nebraska
“USA: Food Shortage in LDCs”
Dr. Deming Liu, New Castle University School of Law, U.K.
“Bonding Requirement for LDC Investments”
Professor Caf Dowlah, City University of New York
“Labor Sending LDCs”
Ms. Cynthia Howson, University of London SOAS, U.K.
“Women’s Smuggling in Senegal”
Professor Ruth Gordon, Villanova University School of Law, USA
“China’s Rising Influence in Africa”
5:50 - 6:00 Ending Remarks
The Law and Development Institute hosts a symposium at Korea Development Institute (KDI) School of Public Policy in Seoul, Korea, on July 27 from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Dasang Building, Room 9201)
The theme of the symposium is microtrade. The speakers and presentation schedule are as the following:
Y.S. Lee, Director, The Law and Development Institute
"Microtrade: An Overview"
Jaemin Lee, Professor of Law, Hanyang University School of Law
"Microtrade as Reflected in the Doha Development Agenda"
Daein Kim, Associate Professor of Law, Ewha Woman's University School of Law
"Microtrade and Government Procurement"
Joongu Yoo, Adjunct Professor, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security
"Microtrade and Aid for Trade"
The Law and Development Institute (LDI, www.lawanddevelopment.net) is pleased to announce a call for paper proposals for the 2011 annual conference, entitled, "Law and Development at the Microlevel: From Microtrade to Current Issues in Law and Development". The conference will be co-hosted with Seattle University School of Law on December 10, 2011. The LDI calls for papers on any aspect of microtrade, which is a new system of international trade designed to alleviate populations of least-developed countries of extreme poverty (for a concept paper, see
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1524185), as well as for papers on other law and development issues that can be considered broadly at the "micro level", including but not limited to: microfinance, microinsurance, green growth and development, etc.
Paper proposals should be limited to a 500 word abstract, which must be received by July 15 at the latest. Accepted conference papers should be completed by November 15 for circulation among the participants in advance of the conference. All proposals must be sent by email to the Law and Development Institute,
info@lawanddevelopment.net (with a cc to wtogeneva@hotmail.com). The paper proposals will be peer-reviewed by members of the editorial board of the Law and Development Review (
www.bepress.com/ldr). It is anticipated that paper selection will be completed by July 31, 2011. The selected authors will be invited to present their papers at the Conference. The conference venue is Seattle University School of Law, located in Seattle, United States. The invited speakers are expected to cover their own expenses to attend the conference.
The LDI's inaugural conference, titled "Future of Law and Development, International Trade Law and Developing Countries", has ended with great success.
The conference was held on the 16th of October at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre located in Darling Harbour, Sydney. A number of prominent figures, such as Chief Justice of the New South Wales Supreme Court J J Spigelman AC, Professor Gary Horlick, former Head of U.S. Import Administration, Department of Commerce, Professor Mitsuo Matsushita, former member of the Appellate Body, the World Trade Organization and Dr. Malcolm Cook, Director of East Asia Program, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, participated and spoke at the conference.
The conference has covered several important topics in three panels, including law and development issues in Asia and the Islam World, microtrade, international trade law and economic development. After panel presentations, discussions followed with questions raised by the audience who came from all corners of Australia and overseas.
The conference and the LDI have been covered by major Australian and foreign media such as Sky News, ABC (Radio Australia), SBS (Korean Program), and Yonhap News (Korean). The links are as the following.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP4d6v1Rqkg (Sky News)
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201010/s3039401.htm (ABC, Radio Australia) http://www.theworldgame.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/korean/highlight/page/id/112961/t/The-Law-and-Development-Institute-s-Inaugural-Conference/in/english (SBS, Korean Program)
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/Basic/OnAir/YIBW_showMPICNewsPopup.aspx?contents_id=MYH20101006006100038 (Yonhap News, Korean)
Sky News conducts a live interview with Professor Y.S. Lee, Director of the Law and Development Institute and Professor Colin Picker, Senior Fellow of the Law and Development Institute and Associate Professor of Law, University of New South Wales, on the Law and Development Institute and its new development project, "microtrade".
For the countries that cannot initiate large-scale development projects for political, economic and social constraints, a smaller development initiative such as microtrade can help people rise up from poverty. Microtrade is a system of trade based on small-scale production of local products which populations of the poorest countries can produce with limited technological and capital resources that they have.
By promoting international trade of those local products and taking advantage of higher prices in the markets of developed countries, microtrade aims to generate the level of income that will help populations of the poorest countries to escape from the worst poverty.
Microtrade can also be used to help economically disadvantaged groups within developed countries such as Aboriginal people in Australia, having the same constraints as in poorer nations. There have been successes in both situations where traditional goods are produced and exported to more advantaged areas in a win-win situation: genuine traditional crafts at reasonable prices, producing enough profit to increase the wherewithal and standard of living of those involved.
A major Korean law institute, "Korea Legislation Research Institute" has invited the LDI Director, Y.S. Lee to attend the 20th anniversary international academic conference on July 1, 2010.
Several preeminent scholars and professionals, including Mr. David Eldon, the Chairman of Dubai International Financial Centre, are expected to participate in the conference. Professor Lee will be speaking on his recent research work, "microtrade".
The LDI Director, Y.S. Lee receives a major award from South Korea for his recent article, "Theoretical Basis and Regulatory Framework for Microtrade: Combining Volunteerism with International Trade towards Poverty Elimination" published in The Law and Development Review (December 2009). The Korea International Trade Law Association has announced the third annual Shim Dhang Academic Award to Professor Y.S. Lee on March 12, 2010. The Award Ceremony is scheduled to be held in Seoul on March 12, 2010. Professor Lee will also make a speech at the Foreign Authority Forum, Seoul National University College of Law on March 18, 2010.
