Law and Development – (M.A.)

This new MA programme offers the opportunity to study in depth the role of law and governance in fostering development by focusing on developing and transition countries. The substantive content covers theories and evidence on the link between legal systems and development, economic analysis of legal institutions, and analysis of the problems and policy choices in legal reform and private sector development in less developed and transition countries. The focus will be not only on law as written rules but also on customary law, norms, practices and issues of enforcement in relation to development. The programme will also cover the experience in rule of law promotion of multi-lateral agencies such as the World Bank, as well as the range of systemic factors affecting the receptiveness of `Western' legal transplants into different development contexts.

This programme is uniquely tailored to cater for the needs of non-lawyers who would like to gain better understanding of the role of law and legal institutions in development. Such persons may have come into contact with issues of legal regulation or legal reform through their involvement in a wide range of activities, such as charity, technical assistance or business transactions. The programme will give these students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the sphere of law (law-making, institutions, and enforcement) in relation to development.

Another unique strength of the programme is that we draw on the tradition of excellence in Manchester's School of Law in engaging in inter-disciplinary research and teaching. The subject area is approached by drawing on law, regulation, law and finance, law and economics, new institutional economics, and sociology of law.