This article explores how private organizations influence the content and meaning of consumer protection legislation. I examine why California forced consumers to use a private dispute resolution system that affords consumers fewer rights, while Vermont adopted a state-run disputing structure that affords consumers greater rights. Drawing from historical and new institutional theories, I analyz...

This paper reviews data regarding the effects of the legislation banning smoking in enclosed public places, including workplaces, restaurants and bars which entered into force in several countries of Europe starting with the year 2004. The source of data is represented by articles and short information published in peer reviewed journals or in electronic format between the years 2005 and 2008. ...

In July 2009, the Obama Administration proposed legislation that would create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (“CFPA”). Among other items, the proposed legislation would eliminate federal preemption of state consumer protection laws, which would encourage states to reintroduce a scattering of local rules and regulations. Federal rules promulgated by the newly created Consumer Financial P...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To date, there has been little analysis of the degree to which emerging incentive initiatives are permissible under Canadian law. The purpose of this review is to examine the relevant law - including legislation and case law - in order to clarify the legality of existing proposed incentive schemes. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Legislation and case law. FINDINGS Organ donation is...

In the 1980's and 1990's HIV/AIDS was the emerging infectious disease. In 2003-2004 we saw the emergence of SARS, Avian influenza and Anthrax in a man made form used for bioterrorism. Emergency powers legislation in Australia is a patchwork of Commonwealth quarantine laws and State and Territory based emergency powers in public health legislation. It is time for a review of such legislation and...

In Spring 2010, the British Parliament finally adopted a comprehensive reform of equality law, following a public debate that stretched over more than a decade. The Equality Act 2010 is the biggest reform of British equality legislation since its inception in the 1960s. It entails the repeal of the burgeoning mass of existing legislation and the replacement of these diverse laws with one statut...

Compared to the environmental legislation of many developed countries, China’s environmental legislation was initiated late, beginning in 1979, but nevertheless has obtained considerable achievements. As many as thirty environmental laws have provided rules regarding prevention and control of pollution, resource utilization, and ecological protection in China. However, China’s environmental leg...

We investigate the evolution of the legal institution of citizenship from a political economy perspective. We first present a median voter model of citizenship laws determination. Next we test the implications of the model on a new dataset on citizenship laws across countries of the world. We show that citizenship laws have responded endogenously to economic and institutional determinants. When...