Rethinking National Investment Laws

This report uncovers the evolution, functions, and potential of national investment laws. It analyzes 70 laws, identifies their seven main functions, and explores how they've been shaped by policy objectives and international standards. It provides a comprehensive guide for policy-makers to understand, assess, and reform these laws to meet emerging challenges and opportunities.This report provides an in-depth analysis of the evolution of national investment laws, tracing their journey from their inception in the 1950s to their current state. It provides insight into how these laws have been shaped by domestic policy objectives and international standards. This study provides a detailed survey of 70 contemporary investment laws, identifying seven main functions they serve today beyond the controlling vs. facilitative distinction. Moreover, it offers a forward-thinking perspective, presenting a practical framework for policy-makers to assess and reform their investment laws to tackle emerging challenges and opportunities, such as climate action, and promote responsible investments. Key themes encompass the evolution of investment laws, policy objectives, sustainable development, investment treaties, and the future of investment law reform. This report 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.