Standing in international investment and trade disputes - Ossa, Ralph; Staiger, Robert W.; Sykes, Alan O. (Journal of International Economics, 2023)
International investment agreements employ dispute settlement procedures that differ markedly from their counterparts in trade agreements. A prominent and controversial difference arises with respect to the issue of “standing”: Who has the right to complain to adjudicators about a violation of the agreement? While trade agreements limit standing to the member governments (state-to-state dispute settlement), investment agreements routinely extend standing to private investors as well (investor-state dispute settlement). We develop parallel models of trade and investment agreements and employ them to study this difference. We find that the difference in standing between trade and investment agreements can be understood as deriving from the fundamentally different problems that these agreements are designed to solve. Our analysis also identifies some important qualifications to the case for including investor-state dispute settlement provisions in investment agreements, thereby offering a potential explanation for the strong political controversy associated with these provisions.
Keywords: Bilateral investment agreements; Investments; Investor-State Dispute Settlement; State-to-state dispute settlement; Trade agreements; Trade dispute

Legal Reconstruction of Dispute Settlement Between Importers and Exporters International Law Perspective - Pristha Utama, Wahyu; Tri, Lazarus; Setiyono, Joko (Journal of Xi'an Shiyou University, Natural Sciences Edition, 2023)
Reconstruction of dispute resolution law between importers and exporters from an international law perspective. The purpose of this study is to analyze: 1) How does the law of dispute resolution between importers and exporters perspective international law? 2) How is the implementation of the recommendations of the dispute resolution bodies of the World Trade Organization from an international law perspective? The research method used is normative juridical with a statutory approach, concept approach, and case studies. The results showed that: 1) Import export is a series of company activities that begin with an agreement. The agreement is the result of previous activities carried out by exporters and importers, namely in the form of supply and demand. The agreement is poured into a sales contract which is an agreement between exporters and importers to trade goods in accordance with mutually agreed conditions and each party binds itself to carry out all obligations incurred. 2) The series of processes undertaken in dispute settlement at the WTO consist of 4 processes, including: Mandatory Consultation between disputing parties to reach a settlement approved by the parties, Application for the establishment of a Panel, the Appellate Body, and the implementation and implementation of recommendations and provisions endorsed by the DSB.
Keywords: Dispute Resolution; Exporter; Importer; International Law; Reconstruction

Party autonomy and judicial participation in commercial arbitration: recalibrating the role of Nigerian courts. - Aduloju, Bamikole Martins (Robert Gordon University, 2023)
Courts and arbitration tribunals aim to resolve disputes and make enforceable decisions in their distinctive way. However, unlike courts, tribunals lack state enforcement power to function independently. Consequently, arbitrating parties have had to approach the courts for various supports. However, while supporting arbitration, the Nigerian courts have been criticised for overwhelmingly undermining party autonomy. Thus, the determination of the extent to which Nigerian courts should participate in arbitration remains topical. This research reviewed the current regime governing the scope and limits to the court's roles in arbitration in Nigeria, aiming to find out the problematic areas where the court's roles have been a leeway to undermine party autonomy. The research found that the current practice in Nigeria generally observes party autonomy as an affirmative stance by the Nigerian courts and laws. It further found the areas where the Nigerian system has, nevertheless, created some leeway for the courts to undermine party autonomy. These include (i) the narrow phrasing and interpretation of Section 34 of the Act and some specific provisions, and their failure to set out a definite limit to courts' roles in arbitration, (ii) the application of the concept of constitutional supremacy which has been interpreted to allow Nigerian courts to participate in all cases including arbitration and override parties' agreement, (iii) absence of Institutionalised tracking and periodic recalibration of the relationship between the courts and arbitration, and (iv) judicialisation of administrative roles of the courts in arbitration. To this end, a legal and analytical review of these problematic issues was conducted, particularly using some elements of the legal comparative approach to analyse the problems in the light of the related practices in some similar or advanced jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Ghana and Malaysia. Lessons were drawn from the analysis. Short- and long-term recommendations were, therefore, made for law reforms in Nigeria, particularly towards recalibrating the court's roles in arbitration such as to wedge the loopholes in the system without which recalcitrant parties and jurists could take advantage to undermine party autonomy.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Autonomy; Court systems; Judiciary; Tribunals

Tacit Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts. An Analysis of Future Instruments of Developmental Organisations - Bouwers, Garth J. (Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 2023)
This article examines the various regional and supranational organisations of emerging countries that could benefit from a codification of private international law rules. They include the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), the African Union (AU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In addition, the article analyses the envisaged instruments that may be especially relevant in the context of the abovementioned organisations. These include the Preliminary Draft Uniform Act on the Law of Obligations in the OHADA Region, the proposed African Principles on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts and the Asian Principles of Private International Law. More specifically, the article focusses on the provisions regarding the determination of the law applicable, particularly those rules relating to a tacit choice of law in international commercial contracts.
Keywords: ASEAN; African Union; Asian Principles of Private International Law; Choice of Law; International Commercial Law; OHADA; Private International Law; Tacit choice of law

Infringement of Brand Rights on Different Products Is an Illegal ACT - Fahdia, Khamada Wafi; Roisah, Kholis (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
The study aims to find out how the provisions of the law are in violation of brand rights to nongender products and their protective forms, as well as how legal efforts should be made in violation of their laws. Legal protection for legitimate brands' owners is regulated within brand laws intended to give their owners exclusive rights. Legal measures that rights holders can make on broken brands can be made either by civil law or criminal law. Indonesia's brand registration system is a constituent system, and it is recommended that all efforts be quick to register a trademark or service brand for the creditor of intellectual property rights. The holding of a brand would be wise to appeal to the court immediately if there is any indication that a brand offense is committed by another and the cost is not greater.
Keywords: Brands Infringement; Products of No Kind; Unlawful Conduct

Vulnerability Theory as a Paradigm Shift in International Investment Law: Reimagining the Role of the State - Küçüksu, Aysel; Ünüvar, Günes (Business and Human Rights Journal, 2023)
This article argues for a fundamental raison d'être reconceptualization of international investment law (IIL) through Martha Fineman's 'vulnerability theory'. The theory helps identify the structural sources of IIL's shortcomings, whilst philosophically challenging the one-sided view that foreign investors are entitled to protections, but are free from obligations vis-à-vis the communities affected by their undertakings. Emphasizing the productive power of the state to take positive action that acknowledges ordinary citizens' embeddedness within, and dependence upon, surrounding structures, the vulnerability theory challenges the hegemonic perception of the state as a source of danger - a view which has hitherto undermined both the potency and the enforceability of investor obligations. Used as a heuristic device in studying both IIL's existing structures and the potential avenues for reimagining it, Fineman's theory not only shines a novel light on the foundational premises of IIL, but also grants theoretical traction to existing ideas about improving the system.

Prospects for an African continental model multilateral tax agreement for the co-ordination of cross-border corporate tax challenges - Fehun Aren, Marie-Louise (University of Pretoria, 2023)
This study explores the creation of an African Continental Model Multilateral Tax Agreement (MMTA) to address the limitations of current bilateral tax treaties and enhance existing African Regional Economic Community (REC) frameworks for more effective taxation of cross-border business profits. Focusing on critical international taxation framework issues such as taxing rights allocation, Permanent Establishment criteria, and tax dispute resolution, it compares African REC MMTA provisions with those in non-African agreements to identify key weaknesses and propose improvements. The proposed MMTA aims to ensure equitable taxing rights, update nexus rules to capture both physical and digital businesses, and provide robust dispute resolution mechanisms to foster investment. It advocates for harmonized tax policies and tax agreements across African RECs to minimize tax competition, promote intra-African trade, and support regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By aligning with the Abuja Treaty’s objectives, the framework seeks to enhance revenue mobilization and sustainable economic development in Africa. This research provides a roadmap for creating a tailored multilateral tax treaty that balances diverse regional interests, addressing Africa’s development financing needs while promoting cross-border taxation efficiency.
Keywords: AfCFTA; African Continental Free Trade Area; Continental model; International taxation frameworks; Multilateral tax agreement; Revenue mobilisation; Tax treaties

An analysis of merger and amalgamation transactions under the Companies Act 71 of 2008 and the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 - Meyer, Carolina (University of Pretoria, 2023)
In law it is common to encounter two separate pieces of legislation which govern a single matter or transaction, for example, the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (the Companies Act) and the Securities Transfer Act 25 of 2007 both of which address the sale of shares. Similarly, the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (the Income Tax Act) and the Companies Act both have regulations which govern, respectively, tax law and company law matters in South Africa. These two Acts overlap in various business and commercial fields as tax is frequently an important component of any business transaction undertaken by a company. Issues, however, arise when the regulations in these two Acts, are inconsistent. This can be observed if one compares the current South African Income Tax and Companies Act, specifically as regards the sections involving merger and amalgamation transactions. Section 44 of the Income Tax Act governs merger and amalgamation transactions from a tax perspective and provides for tax rollover relief if certain requirements are met. The regulations governing mergers and amalgamations under the Companies Act are contained in sections 113, 115 and 116 of the Act. Although these sections in both Acts address the same transaction – a merger or amalgamation between two or more companies – there are several discrepancies between the regulations in the two Acts which appear to operate entirely independently of one another. In practice, one often sees that other sections in the Companies Act and Income Tax Act are used to achieve a merger due, in the main, to the uncertainties in the application of the relevant merger sections in the two Acts and the limited interaction between them. This study identifies and assesses the impact of the discrepancies identified in these two Acts in relation to merger and amalgamation transactions. The study makes recommendations to address these discrepancies and to align the South African Companies Act and Income Tax Act as regards merger/amalgamation transactions.
URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/94064
Keywords: Amalgamation; Companies Act; Income Tax Act; Merger; Taxation

Earnings Management and Default Risk - Nguyen, Loan (Victoria University of Wellington, 2023)
This thesis comprehensively investigates the relationship between default risk (DR) and earnings management (EM) by addressing inconsistencies in prior research regarding the level and direction of EM in response to varying levels of DR. The thesis extends beyond severe financial distress to include firms with low and medium levels of distress. It examines the non-monotonic relationship between DR and EM, considering accrual earnings management (AEM), real earnings management (REM), and total earnings management (TEM). The thesis also examines the impact of DR on the relative use of REM versus AEM. The moderating effect of the global financial crisis (GFC) on the relationship between DR and EM is also explored.Using a sample of 29,228 firm-year observations from 4,514 US-listed firms during 2001-2019, the study employs both the traditional two-step and the more recent one-step approaches to identify EM. Sensitivity analysis is conducted, including and excluding mining firms.The findings reveal a non-monotonic relationship between DR and REM, with a concave pattern observed for all measures of REM. Initially, REM increases as DR rises, but it subsequently declines with further increases in DR. AEM, on the other hand, shows a convex or monotonically decreasing relationship with DR, although statistical significance is not consistently observed. The results for TEM align with those of REM, indicating the dominance of REM in TEM. These findings remain consistent when excluding mining industry observations and using different measures for EM and DR.The implications of these findings are significant for managers, firms, regulators, lenders, investors, and other stakeholders. The non-monotonic relationship between DR and REM offers insights for decision-making and determining appropriate levels of EM during varying levels of DR. Regulators can utilise this relationship to identify potential risk areas and develop effective regulations. Lenders can assess financial statements more vigilantly, and investors can make more accurate risk assessments and informed investment decisions. The robustness of the results and the inclusion of different EM measures provide valuable insights to auditors, analysts, and government professionals, enhancing their understanding of the complexities and risks associated with EM during varying levels of DR.The study also uncovers that the relative use of AEM and REM is complimentary, but the impact of DR dampens the increase in REM for a given increase in AEM. This result holds across primary and alternative measures of DR and is of significant interest to managers, firms, regulators, and other stakeholders. It provides insights into the interplay between AEM and REM, enabling informed decisions about EM strategies under different levels of DR. Regulators can leverage this information to identify potential risk areas and develop effective regulations to mitigate EM practices that could lead to financial instability. Lenders and investors benefit from understanding how DR affects the relative use of AEM and REM, enabling them to assess financial statements and manage investment risk more accurately. The study’s findings contribute to a deeper understanding of EM dynamics and have practical implications for various stakeholders in the financial ecosystem.Furthermore, the thesis investigates EM measures during the GFC and the moderating effect of the GFC on the relationship between DR and EM. The inclusion of REM and TEM, in addition to AEM, provides a comprehensive understanding of how firms managed their earnings during the GFC, offering insights into the effectiveness and implications of different EM strategies during a financial crisis. It confirms the decline of AEM during the GFC, reinforcing existing knowledge about the impact of the crisis on EM practices. Additionally, it identifies a negative impact of the GFC on REM and TEM, providing further evidence of the challenges and changes in EM strategies faced by firms during the economic crisis. The study also finds an insignificant moderating effect of the GFC on the relationship between DR and REM, as well as DR and TEM, shedding light on EM variation across different economic stages.Overall, this thesis contributes to the EM literature by examining the non-monotonic impact of DR on EM measures, comparing different approaches to identify EM, exploring the moderating effect of DR on the relative use of AEM and REM, and investigating EM measures during the GFC. The insights from this research assist managers in decision-making, firms in adapting financial management strategies, regulators in developing policies, lenders in risk assessment, and investors in understanding the complexities and risks associated with EM. The findings have practical implications for various stakeholders in the financial realm, guiding decision-making, regulatory efforts, risk assessment, and investment strategies.Keywords: earnings management, accruals earnings management, real earnings management, default risk, global financial crisis, one-step approach, two-step approach.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Business Ethics - MacDonald, Chris; Marcoux, Alexei (Toronto Metropolitan University, 2023)
The authors’ aim in writing The Concise Encyclopedia of Business Ethics (CEBE) was to provide readers with a useful, concise overview of key issues in business ethics. Our aim is not to be exhaustive, but to provide key definitions, main areas of controversy, and pointers for further reading. It is hoped that it will provide a useful reference guide for students, as well as a starting point for scholars in adjacent fields. Our commitment to sticking to what we consider to be essential topics inevitably means that some readers will find that we have left out what they take to be important topics. For the most part, we stand by our editorial choices. However, as a digital document, it is possible that the CEBE will change and grow slightly over the coming years. Readers are free to provide feedback and suggestions by emailing the authors jointly at editors@bejr.org

The impact of blockchain and smart contracts on dispute settlement: a case for mediation. - Mak, Charles Ho Wang; Mante, Joseph (Dispute settlement: the past, present and future dimensions, 2023)
The research is premised on two important developments, accelerating technological innovation and shifts in dispute resolution paradigms. These advancements offer an innovative framework for dispute avoidance and a more efficient, transparent process for resolving conflicts, particularly in commercial settings. To make this case, we use blockchain technology and smart contracts as technological exemplars, and mediation as an example of dispute resolution mechanism that can be positively impacted by the use of the relevant technology. The potential of these technologies to promote dispute avoidance and the emerging legal frameworks for resolving blockchain technology and smart contract disputes were also explored. We also examine how blockchain technology and smart contracts can be integrated into the mediation process, the advantages, challenges, and possible solutions.
https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2086138/the-impact-of-blockchain-and-smart-contracts-on-dispute-settlement-a-case-for-mediation
Keywords: Blockchain technology; Dispute resolutions; Disputes; Smart contacts; Technological innovation

Corporate Criminal Sanctions for Human Rights Abuses: A Legal Appraisal of This Liability Under Cameroonian Business Law - Nyiloh Bavoh, Frankline (International Multilingual Journal of Science and Technology, 2023)
Criminal responsibility for corporate related human rights violations is a challenging and complex question in today’s world, this is partly because of the individual or personal character of criminal responsibility. It is held as a general rule that only human beings can commit offences. The primary objective of this research is to critically examine the human rights aspects of corporate criminal responsibility of companies in Cameroon. The conducts of business by various corporations in Cameroon are recognized as an impetus to economic, social, cultural and political advancement. With the rise in corporate crimes in the world today, the question has been whether a corporate body can be held liable for corporate crimes or not. The paper answers in the affirmative that a corporate body can be subject to criminal prosecution and liability for crimes occurring within the corporation especially in the domain of human rights. Considering that a corporate body cannot be imprisoned, or punished like an individual, there are ways to punish a corporation. A corporate body may be fined, ban, closed placed under judicial supervision for a specified period of time. With this in mind, the paper analyses the concept of corporate criminal liability with specific regards to corporate capacity, the basis upon which such liability attaches to a corporation and sanctions with the aim of illustrating the weaknesses of the different aspects trundled-out above.
Keywords: Cameroun; Cooperate; Criminal; Human rights; Sanctions

Congolese Land Rights Put to the Test by the Private Real Estate Investment Revolution - Milenge, Christian Mwenyemali (Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2023)
Private investors’ land rights vary from country to country, depending on the legal system in place. The degree of openness of land laws determines the degree to which both domestic and foreign investors are attracted, as the latter aims to invest in countries with legal systems offering the most secure and sustainable interests. How can Congolese land laws be made more attractive to private investors in the real estate sector? Using exegetical and comparative methods, we will test our hypothesis that reform to increase the rights of private national and foreign investors to access land would be an asset. By comparing Congolese land law with other legal systems, and with current social and economic realities, we have concluded that accommodating land rights is a prerequisite for increasing both domestic and foreign private investment in real estate and an essential step towards boosting and modernizing real estate investment in the DRC.
Number: 9
Keywords: Agricultural Investment; Congolese Land Ownership Law; Investments; Land Rights; Private Investment; Real Estate Law

The Law of the Sea and Nigeria's Marine Policy: A Critical Evaluation - Tagowa, Wonotanzokan Nzeda (Ahmadu Bello University, 2023)
Keywords: Droit maritime; Marine policy; Nigeria; Sea

Corporate Finance, Governance, and Social Responsibility - Gherghina, Ştefan Cristian (MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2023)
This reprint covers 27 papers published in the Special Issue entitled Corporate Finance, Governance, and Social Responsibility, which examines several topics related to corporate finance, financial modeling, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility. Corporate finance-related articles (Anton and Afloarei Nucu, 2021; Bae et al., 2023; Kedzior et al., 2020; Lts and Lukason, 2022; Miglo, 2020; Mihail et al., 2021; Mota and Moreira, 2023; Tsolas, 2021; Tudose et al., 2021; and Wen et al., 2021) focus on the drivers of the capital structure and firm performance, the effect of working capital management on profitability, and the link between derivative use and profitability. Regarding financial modeling, stock market volatility was explored during COVID-19 (Gherghina et al., 2021). Corporate governance studies (Aluchna and Kuszewski, 2020; Ararat et al., 2021; Ding and Chea, 2021; Kjrland et al., 2020; Loureno et al., 2021; Lukason and Camacho-Miano, 2020; Maier and Yurtoglu, 2022; Mihail and Dumitrescu, 2021; Mihail et al., 2022; Mihail and Micu, 2021; and Pourmansouri et al., 2022) examine the effect of corporate governance compliance practices, board attributes, or employee stock option plans on bankruptcy risk, performance, firm value, or earnings management. Regarding CSR (Bozos et al., 2022; Rossi et al., 2021; Saeed and Sroufe, 2021; Singh and Hong, 2023; and Tseng and Shih, 2022), the research focuses on how CSR affects financial performance, risk management, or analyst profits estimates.
Keywords: CSR; Corporate Finance; Financial performance

Transparency in international arbitration: balancing the need for openness with the need for confidentiality - Mak, Charles Ho Wang; Rohatgi, Akshita (ACICA review, 2023)
International arbitration is often presented as an efficient and appropriate alternative to domestic court systems for resolving conflicts. For international arbitration to be effective, it is essential that the procedure adopted be open and accountable. This article will discuss the significance of openness in international arbitration and how it may promote justice, foster trust, and avoid corruption and misbehaviour.
https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2255845/transparency-in-international-arbitration-balancing-the-need-for-openness-with-the-need-for-confidentiality
Keywords: Corruption; International Arbitration; Justice; Misbehavour; Transparency; Trust

Fishing for Rights ! The Protection of the Individual in Fisheries - Longo, Andrea (Università degli studi di Milano, 2023)
La pêche est une activité humaine ayant un impact considérable sur l'environnement. Une mauvaise gouvernance, des mécanismes d'application faibles ou inexistants et des subventions excessives et non réglementées ont entraîné la surexploitation des stocks de poissons dans le monde entier, en produisant des conséquences potentiellement désastreuses sur l'écosystème marin et la sécurité alimentaire. Cependant, les pratiques de pêche non durables sont également liées à des abus à bord des navires de pêche : les organisations internationales et non gouvernementales attirent progressivement l'attention sur les pratiques répandues de violations des droits de l'homme et de crimes en mer, en appelant à repenser le régime international pour la conservation et la gestion des pêches en vue de concilier la sécurité économique et environnementale avec la dimension sociale de la pêche durable.Dans ce contexte, la présente thèse de doctorat aborde les problèmes conceptuels et pratiques qui se rattachent à la protection des individus impliqués dans ou autrement affectés par l'activité de pêche, en se concentrant particulièrement sur les victimes à bord des navires de pêche. La thèse s'appuie sur les études relatives à l'interaction des régimes en vue de favoriser le dialogue entre le droit international des droits de l'homme et le droit de la mer, deux régimes relevant du système plus large du droit international public. Après avoir exploré la portée de la question de recherche et fourni le contexte théorique et factuel, le premier chapitre se penche sur le régime du droit des droits de l'homme et examine la notion de juridiction telle qu'elle s'applique aux violations des droits de l'homme en mer, en étudiant en particulier l'utilisation potentielle de la norme sur la juridiction de l'État du pavillon comme critère pour attirer une violation des droits de l'homme à bord de navires de pêche relevant de la juridiction de l'État du pavillon. Le chapitre explore également le contenu et la portée des obligations en matière de droits de l'homme, en se concentrant notamment sur un ensemble de six droits prétendument violés à bord des navires de pêche, à savoir le droit à la vie, l'interdiction de la torture et des traitements inhumains et dégradants, l'interdiction de l'esclavage et des formes modernes d'esclavage, l'interdiction de la privation arbitraire de liberté, le droit à un travail décent et le droit à la santé. Ensuite, le deuxième chapitre se concentre sur le droit de la mer, en retraçant spécifiquement le développement historique qui a conduit à la consolidation du régime actuel de la pêche et en explorant la portée de la notion de pêche illégale, non déclarée et non réglementée et du phénomène de la criminalité dans le domaine de la pêche. Enfin, le dernier chapitre traite de la notion de juridiction telle qu'elle est utilisée dans le droit de la mer, en étudiant spécifiquement son contenu en ce qui concerne tous les acteurs étatiques de ce régime, à savoir l'État côtier, l'État du pavillon, l'État du port et l'État du marché. En particulier, ce chapitre examine de plus près les obligations de chaque État en ce qui concerne la protection de la personne à bord des navires de pêche, en accordant une attention particulière aux pouvoirs d'exécution de l'État côtier et à l'exercice par l'État du pavillon du contrôle des ses navires. Enfin, et surtout, il apporte un éclairage sur la contribution potentielle que les États du port et les États du marché pourraient apporter à la protection des personnes à bord des navires de pêche.
Cotutelle : Université Côte d'Azur
Keywords: Droit de la mer; Droits de l'homme; Fisheries regime; Fisheries resources; Fishing vessels; Human Rights; Law of the Sea; Navires de pêche; Pêches; Ressources halieutiques; Régime de pêche

Attaining effective and speedy resolutions of unfair dismissal disputes in Lesotho: An explorarion of possible lessons from South Africa - Ntaitsane, Mamolefi Anacletta (National University of Lesotho, 2023)
National Manpower Development Secretariat
Keywords: Labour dispute; Lesotho; Resolution mechanisms; Unfair dismissal disputes

Confidentiality in International Commercial Arbitration: Is it an Accepted Principle, and if so, Should the Model Law Regulate it? - Kenny, Caroline Majella (Monash University, 2023)
This thesis examines two research questions: first, whether confidentiality in international commercial arbitration (‘ICA’) is an ‘accepted principle’, and second, if the answer to the first question is positive, whether confidentiality should be regulated by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (‘UNCITRAL’) Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (1985), with amendments adopted in 2006 (‘Model Law’) and how such a provision would be framed. To place the questions in context, there is empirical evidence that confidentiality is expected by users of ICA but despite this expectation there appears to be no uniform approach on confidentiality in national laws and institutional rules.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Confidentiality; UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules; UNCITRAL Model Law

Structural Change, Productivity Growth and Labour Market Turbulence in Sub-Saharan Africa - Mensah, Emmanuel; Owusu, Solomon; Foster-McGregor, Neil; Szirmai, Adam (Journal of African Economies, 2023)
This paper presents a shift-share decomposition of the role of structural change in driving labour productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The paper further examines the effect that the observed structural change has had upon the dynamics of labour markets in SSA. The analysis is based on a newly constructed dataset, the Extended Africa Sector Database. This database updates and extends the Africa Sector Database of the Groningen Growth and Development Centre. It includes eighteen countries covering the period 1960–2015. Overall, the database shows that productivity growth has been slow, with large and persistent sectoral productivity gaps present. The extent of structural change has been higher than that observed in previous studies, however. But while the share of employment and value added in agriculture has declined, resources have been pulled into certain service sectors that have relatively low productivity, thus limiting aggregate productivity improvements. The general direction of structural change has not been towards the most productive sectors. Results of the labour market analysis complement this analysis, providing suggestive evidence of a role for labour market institutional arrangements in many SSA countries in affecting these outcomes.

Selection and Appointment in International Adjudication: Insights from Political Science - Larsson, Olof; Squatrito, Theresa; Stiansen, Øyvind; St John, Taylor (Journal of International Dispute Settlement, 2023)
This article summarizes insights from political science and empirical legal scholarship concerning selection and appointment of adjudicators to permanent international courts (ICs). This scholarship suggests that designers of ICs face challenging trade-offs in balancing judicial independence and accountability, as well as in promoting descriptive representation and necessary qualifications on the bench. The article considers different institutional design features related to appointment procedures: representation, reappointment, screening procedures and procedures for removing judges. Representation is discussed in a series of sections considering full or selective representation, voting rules and geographic and gender quotas and aspirational targets. Throughout, we draw on data on 24 ICs to illustrate the different appointment procedures and institutional features.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Green Marketing Adoption in Nigeria: A Panoramic View - Nkwede, Maria-Friday; Ogbulie, Angela (African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 2023)
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green marketing adoption is a twin trend that is fast becoming a global tendency amongst world economies, irrespective of socio-economic outlook. This paper pedagogically links the two concepts in the Nigeria business climes and explores, through a panoramic view the rate of adoption of CSR and green marketing in Nigeria. This study adopted an exploratory research design vis-à-vis a qualitative research approach. Based on the findings, this paper posits that corporate social responsibility in the Nigerian context is highly “localized” to reflect realities in the Nigerian socio-cultural space. However, green marketing adoption is near impossible for the average Nigerian organization; this is due in part to the enormous funds necessary for implementation of green marketing strategies in their businesses. This study therefore recommends the setting up of trust fund for companies (especially, small scale business) by government; this would give the companies the opportunity to fully develop and adopt green marketing strategy
Keywords: CSR; Corporate Social Responsibility; Customers; Green marketing adoption; Nigeria; RSE

Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for the Accounting Profession in Nigeria - Nkwede, Maria; Aniuga, Chukwuma (African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 2023)
Artificial intelligence with its fifth industrial revolution is fast griping the African continent. The emergence and adoption of artificial intelligence applications and systems is fast becoming a normal trend in emerging markets landscape across Africa. This paper is borne out of the need to identify challenges that professional grapple with in their quest to surmount the challenges posed by the realities of artificial intelligence applications in Africa. The study adopted the thematic style in presenting the challenges as well as the prospects of artificial intelligence applications for the accounting professional in emerging market. Some of the challenges of artificial intelligence application identified in this study include: complex algorithms, reduced investment, and software failure, lack of political will and limitations amongst others. On the other hand, opportunities of artificial intelligence in emerging market include transportation automation, technological cyborgs and robotic companions amongst others. From the findings, accounting professional are advised to strive harder in order to beat competition by delivering quality services to her clients through harnessing opportunities for rebranding, reengineering and radically improving the business and investment decisions which is the ultimate purpose of the profession. More so, they are encouraged to develop a novel set of proficiency revolving around data in the profession
Keywords: AI; Accounting Profession; Artificial Intelligence; Challenges; Fifth Industrial Revolution; Inteligência artificial; Intelligence Artificielle; Opportunities

The significance of a forum selection agreement as an indicator of the implied choice of law in international contracts: a global comparative perspective - Okoli, Chukwuma Samuel Adesina (Uniform Law Review, 2023)
Where the parties to an international contract fail to specify the choice of law, a forum selection agreement is one of the most, if not the most, significant factors to consider in implying the choice of law in many international, supranational, regional instruments, and national jurisdictions. However, it is an ill-defined, notoriously complex, and hotly debated issue as to the weight that should be attached to a forum selection agreement in implying the choice of law. Hence, this article is devoted to discussing this topic from a comparative perspective, in order to propose a guide to global uniform criteria. To achieve this, the article covers all relevant international, regional, and supranational instruments, and selected legal systems in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. The legal systems compared include those from the global North and global South, including common law, civil law, and mixed legal systems. The article’s core proposal is that an exclusive forum selection agreement should be a key factor in implying the choice of law. However, except in such cases as where a forum is chosen on a neutral basis, there should be a general requirement of corroboration with at least one other factor of significance. The aim of the proposal is to contribute to greater uniformity, predictability, and certainty in the global community in this field of law.

Legal scope of the carrier's liability in the contract of carriage of goods by sea - Drici, Amina (Journal OF LEGAL STUDIES, 2023)
The area of responsibility of the sea freight carrier is to determine the scope of liability over time for damage to the goods and is reflected in the search for the beginning and end of its liability; as well as the determination of the damage which triggers the carrier's obligation to compensate for the losses, damage, delay and determine the persons responsible for the damages for which the recipient or beneficiary of the goods has the right to recourse.
Keywords: Liability; Material scope; Personal scope; Sea carrier; Time scope; Transportation of goods

Legal Framework on Protection of Environmental and Foreign Direct Investment Rights in Nigeria: A Reflection on the Oil and Gas Industry - Osaro, Ebiemere (African Journal of International Energy & Environmental Law, 2023)
It is trite that environmental challenges remain one of the major global concerns and no doubt of great impact on human existence and wellbeing. This impact is a result of human activities on the natural ecosystem. This article examines the legal framework by the Nigerian state in regulating the activities of the multinational investors in the oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta region of the country. It discusses the international, regional, and national legal framework in the protection of environment and environmental rights of the host community and foreign direct investment rights. The author demonstrates the imbalance in the protection of environmental and foreign direct investment rights from which suggestions are made towards correcting this injustice as caused by the existing legal framework.
Keywords: Community; Direct; Environment; Foreign investment; Niger Delta; Oil and Gas Industry; Protection; Rights

The efficacy of commercial arbitration, law and practice Lesotho - Thethe-Chitja, Makabelo (National University of Lesotho, 2023)
The success of commercial arbitration law and practice is achieved as a result of several factors. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether efficacy of commercial arbitration, law and practice in Lesotho is hindered by the legal framework which does not conform to the United Nations Commission Trade Law on International Commercial Arbitration, UNCITRAL Model Law. Examining such other factors as support of the courts and government, the study specifically investigated the impact of lack of education about commercial arbitration for the business community and unregulated arbitrators on the efficacy of the commercial arbitration, law and practice in Lesotho. With the use of the desk reviews and interviews as data collection methods for this study, the evidence obtained has revealed that efficacy of the commercial arbitration, law and practice in Lesotho is hampered by the law which is outdated and inconsistent with the UNCITRAL Model law. As such, support for the mechanism by the courts has been found to be at stake or adversely affected. Lack of support from the government and that of awareness campaigns about the mechanism for the business community have also been noted for constraining the efficacy of the commercial arbitration, law and practice in the country. Further noticeable from the findings include limited commitment from the legal profession and unregulated arbitrators, both of which could have significantly obstructed the mechanism. The study thus concludes that there is an urgent need for law reforms and concerted commitment from the relevant stakeholders to help towards achieving efficacy of the commercial arbitration, law and practice in Lesotho.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Commercial Arbitration; Lesotho

Saudi Banks Level of Compliance with Accounting Standards of Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions - A. Al-Bogami, S. (Information Sciences Letters, 2023)

The Relation between Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Financial Performance: Theoretical and Analytics Framework - Ayoob Mohammed Hassan, Noora; Din, Badariah binti Haji; Senasi, Vally (Information Sciences Letters, 2023)
The paper aims to review the relation between Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Performance. We reviewed these variables and develop a Theoretical and Analytics framework. First introduction (study background, Problem Statement, Research Objectives and research questions). Second literature review (A) financial performance such as ROA, ROE, EPS and Tobin’s Q, (B) Corporate Governance as Board of Directors, Board Composition, CEO Duality and Board Size (C) Risk Management. Third, we discussed Underpinning Theories such as, Agency Theory and Institutional Theory. Fourth, we developed a Theoretical Framework where we illustrated (A) Corporate Governance and Financial Performance, (B) Risk Management and Financial Performance (C) Compliance with Accounting Standards and Financial Performance. Finally, we developed a comprehensive reviewing based on above variables.
Keywords: Corporate governance; Performance; Risk Management

Influence of Training, Experience, and Expertise on Quality of Financial Reporting in Dubai – Mediation of Adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards - IPSAS - El Haron, Esam O.; Haji Din, Badariah (Information Sciences Letters, 2023)

Accounting Choices During COVID 19 Pandemic: Does Corporate Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility Matter? - T. Hassan, N. (Information Sciences Letters, 2023)
This study aims to understand the accounting effects of the Corona pandemic in more depth and clarity, where the study explores the accounting choices during the pandemic period and the impact of the firm's strategic orientation and its social responsibility performance on those choices. Using data from non-financial Saudi companies, the accounting choices divided into aggressive accounting strategy and conservative accounting strategy, and regression models used to examine the study hypotheses. The results of the study provide a clearer and in-depth vision about the nature of accounting practices during the pandemic and indicated that business strategy affects accounting choices, while corporate social responsibility does not affect. The results can imply useful information for the market regulators that help them in controlling and stabilizing the market, as well as for professional accounting organizations to help them issue guidelines for accounting work during crises.
Keywords: Accounting choices; CSR; Corporate Social Responsibility; Corporate strategy; Covid-19 pandemic; Saudi companies

Critical Reflection on the Rights of Creditors in Case of Insufficiency of Assets in OHADA Collective Procedures Law - Kontchop, Hilarion; Tsala, Edith Nadège Fopa (International Journal of Law and Society, 2023)
The procedure of liquidation of assets can be closed for the extinction of liabilities or for insufficient assets. The court may then, at the request of any interested person or ex officio, at any time during the proceedings and after a report by the official receiver, close the proceedings. In case of insufficiency of assets, the business disappears and, perhaps, the hope of any payment to creditors as well. For a long time, it was accepted that the closure for lack of assets allows creditors to resume individual proceedings against the debtor, especially if the latter returns to better circumstances. This traditional solution has been abandoned. According to OHADA Uniform Act on the organisation of collective procedures for the settlement of liabilities, revised on 10 December 2015, closure for insufficiency of assets no longer automatically gives creditors the right to take individual action. Thus, when a liquidation leads to a shortage of assets, the satisfaction of creditors remains uncertain. The objective of this study is to show that despite this reform, the protection of creditors’ rights has not changed significantly in the event of insufficient assets. Indeed, any possible recourse to the recovery of their claims remains paralysed by certain measures that infringe their rights. The infringements can be described as severe or moderate depending on the case.
OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4381057496
Keywords: Closure (psychology); Collective Proceedings; Creditors; Debtor; Insufficiency of Assets; Liquidation; Settlement (finance)

Addressing the Legitimacy Crisis of Investment Arbitration Through its Harmonization with World Trade Organization Law - Seifi, Seyed Jamal; Veis Karami, Mahdi (Public Law Researsh, 2023)
International investment law is facing a legitimacy crisis, in which to tackle, substantial efforts are being made in structural and procedural areas. The first step to overcoming this crisis is identifying the roots of it. The lack of a dynamic balance between public and private interests is one of the main factors creating this legitimacy crisis in this legal system.[1] This paper focuses on the changes in the investment arbitration jurisprudence to create this balance. The findings of this paper can explain one of the convergence points of international trade and investment law. Such a claim is based on the evolution of international trade law in facing a similar legitimacy issue and the structural-procedural approach of this legal system in balancing public and private interests as an ultimate solution to the crisis.[2] From this perspective, one of the major factors in creating a legitimacy crisis in both legal systems is the dominance of the paradigm for preference of private interests; and one of the convergence points of international trade and investment law has been to replace it by accepting the paradigm of creating a dynamic balance between competing goals.[3] This paper examines this convergence in arbitral jurisprudence.IntroductionIn recent years, the legitimacy crisis of the regime of international investment law and, as a result, the investor-state dispute settlement system has been one of the most important and controversial topics in the academic environment and the practice of states consequently, serious efforts in various fields to tackle this crisis have begun. According to this paper, choosing an arbitration mechanism modeled on international commercial arbitration to resolve disputes between host states and foreign investors can be evaluated as a wrong and hasty action that, regardless of its factors and contexts, has changed the nature and function of this system over time.[4] It should be noted that the main factor in such consequences is how this dispute resolution system is used which, contrary to the accepted model, always puts the host states in a "respondent" position in possible future disputes and, as a result, disrupts the balance expected in any international dispute settlement system. On this basis, the confrontation of the host state's sovereign competence in ensuring public interests with the foreign investors’ ability to challenge this competence is brought into the spotlight: currently, within the regime of international investment law, host states have only responsibilities and obligations in contrast to extensive and exclusive rights and privileges recognized for foreign investors, and this can be considered as the most important factor disturbing the said balance. The main issue in this field is to analyze the role of the investment arbitral tribunals in creating such a balance. In this regard, the authors, by focusing on the nature of investment treaties, and the relations between the parties in investment disputes and with emphasis on the general legal regime governing international investment, consider creating a dynamic balance between public and private interests to be the key to solving the crisis. They emphasize that; As long as the rights and obligations of the parties to the dispute are based on imbalanced grounds, the change in nature of the disputes and the function of the system -as the main roots of this legitimacy crisis - will remain. In this remark, it is very important to focus on the two-sided nature (public-private) of the relationships established in the framework of investment treaties. The relationship between the host state and the foreign investor is created within the framework of investment treaties and in light of fundamental differences from purely private relationships in international commercial arbitration.[5] Note that any dispute arising from this relationship is affected by its inherently public nature governed by public international law.[6] Thus, a purely private attitude towards these relations does not seem viable. As Ian Brownlie has stated in the case of SME v. the Czech Republic, it can lead to ignoring some of the basic elements of the relevant investment treaty.[7] In other words, the right and duty of the host state in protecting and promoting public interests is a fundamental part of this relationship, and any indulgence of it leads to a serious disruption of the mentioned balance through which the system's legitimacy will be the first victim.It is clear that the main task of any dispute resolution system is to create such a balance, and on this basis, and compared to the WTO dispute resolution system, the role of the investment tribunals in this process is discussed. This jurisprudential convergence is in line with the goal of strengthening the legitimacy of the international investment law system as a whole.Based on the above, the first part of this paper focuses on the process of establishing the ISDS in international investment law and its characteristics, the factors of the crisis of legitimacy are analyzed with an analytical approach, while also explaining the nature of investment treaties and explaining the general legal regime governing international investment. Furthermore, the lack of a dynamic balance between public and private interests is emphasized as the main cause of the crisis. In the second part, while comparing the two legal systems of international trade and investment with a similar crisis of legitimacy, we will examine the interaction of investment arbitration with the WTO's jurisprudence in facing this crisis through a case study of several investment arbitral awards. [1]. David Gaukrodger, “The Balance between Investor Protection and the Right to Regulate in Investment Treaties: A Scooping Paperˮ, OECD Working Paper on International Investment 2017/02, at 4.[2]. Nicholas DiMascio & Joost Pauwelyn, “Non-Discrimination in Trade and Investment Treaties: Worlds apart or Two Sides of the Same Coin?”, AJIL, Vol. 102, No.1, (2008), at 89.[3]. Jurgen Kurtz and Sungioon Cho, “Convergence and Divergence in International Economic Law and Politics”, EJIL, Vol. 20, No. 1, (2018), at 187.[4]. Benedict Kingsbury & Stephan W. Schill, “Public Law Concepts to Balance Investor's Rights with State Regulatory Actions in the Public Interest - The Concept of Proportionalityˮ, In Schill Stephan W., International Investment Law and Comparative Public Law (UK: Oxford University Press, 2010) at 76. [5]. Crina Baltag, “Reforming The ISDS System: In Search of a Balanced Approach?ˮ, Contemporary Asia Arbitration Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2, (2019), at 285.[6]. Ibid.[7]. Andreas Kulick, “Sneaking Through Backdoor – Reflections on Public Interest in International Investment Arbitrationˮ, Arbitration International, Vol. 29, No. 3, (2013), at 438.
Keywords: Crisis of Legitimacy; International Investment Law; Investor-State Dispute Settlement; WTO; World Trade Organization

Rights and Obligations of the Parties Against International Arbitration Awards in Indonesia - Puspita, Lona; Budiono, Abdul Rachmad; Kusumadara, Afifah; Widagdo, Setyo (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
The position of international arbitration awards which is different from national arbitration awards and district court decisions causes differences in the rights and obligations of the parties to arbitral awards, especially those relating to legal remedies against awards. The formulation of the problem in this study is how are the rights and obligations of the parties to international arbitral awards in Indonesia. The research method used in this article is legal research using primary and secondary legal materials. The results of the study state that the rights possessed by the parties to international arbitral awards in Indonesia are related to legal remedies against decisions, namely corrections to these international arbitral awards. The corrections to the decisions here are not only limited to administrative corrections but also corrections related to the principal international arbitral awards made before the request for execution was registered at the Central Jakarta District Court. While the obligations of the parties to international arbitral awards are to carry out international arbitral awards in good faith.
Keywords: International Arbitration Award; Rights and Obligations

Exploring the Voice of Populist Movements in the Employment of Foreign Nationals: A Comparative Study of Botswana and South Africa - Utete, Reward; Zhou, Sheunesu; Ajani, Oluwatoyin Ayodele (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
Labour immigration has been on the rise and has had policy implications for public leaders of relatively stable Southern African Development Corporation (SADC) countries. In this paper, the status of populism and labour immigration in Botswana and South Africa was explored. The primary sources of labour immigration are Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Economic disparities and the disintegration of the socio-economic conditions of the neighbouring countries have been major antecedents for the labour movements of the masses. The study utilised a qualitative method and comparative case study design. The study found that populist movements have much influence on the termination of employment of foreign nationals in Botswana and South Africa as shown by their anti-immigrant attitudes, market protectionism, and close-the-borders protests. As these measures have become inefficient over the years, policies and proposals are recommended in response.
Keywords: Economy; Employment; Foreign Nationals; Immigrants; Policies; Populist Movements

Corporate human rights obligations of investors in recent investment agreements: The progressive hardening process of CSR clauses - Francis Maïnkade, Belengar (Heliyon, 2023)
Since the earlier indirect Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions failed to hold investors responsible for human rights abuses, the recent hardening process of direct CSR clauses has resulted in incorporating CSR clauses under sections or chapters entitled “investors obligations” and tying CSR obligations to binding human rights and environmental prohibitions, as well as to human rights obligations established by the host state's legislation. This paper provides a non-exhaustive analysis of recent developments in treaty practice based on research primarily sourced from investment agreements concluded between 2012 and 2021, doctrinal input, and normative analysis. As shown in this paper the hardening process has not yet been completed, and reformations are necessary. Specifically, new investment agreements should enshrine investor human rights obligations as legally binding obligations, consider violations of these CSR obligations as part of investment disputes and provide direct remedies to victims. This study contributes to the literature on the international responsibility of TNCs with regard to human rights by examining the process of hardening up the CSR obligations within investment agreements as an approach that could lead to effective human rights protection.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; Corporate human rights responsibility; Hardening of corporate social responsibility clauses; International responsibility of transnational companies; Investors' human rights obligations

Introduction: International Adjudication and the Legacy of the Mixed Arbitral Tribunals - Ruiz Fabri, Hélène (The Mixed Arbitral Tribunals, 1919–1939: An Experiment in the International Adjudication of Private Rights, 2023)
This introduction provides the reader with a general characterization of the 39 Mixed Arbitral Tribunals (MATs) created by the 1919-1923 peace treaties to address disputes between private persons and between private persons and states as a result of the First World War. Noting that the rich literature published on the MATs was followed by near-silence after 1945, it mentions the numerous questions that they still raise today, before explaining how the various contributions to the book edited by the authors address them.

The protection of EU technological sovereignty in the area of foreign direct investments: legal challenges after the EU regulation 452/2019 - Vecchio, Giuseppe (LUISS Guido Carli, 2023)
EU’s competence over FDI: European technological sovereignty. Definition, origins, and scope of EU foreign investment law. EU competence over foreign direct investments. European technological sovereignty. Regulation 452/2019–screening mechanisms in national legislation with a focus of the Italian regime. Structure of regulation 452/2019. Implementation in national legislation. The screening regulation as a tool to enforce technological sovereignty. EU technological sovereignty in practice. First and second annual report on the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union. A first appraisal of the problematic interplay between FDIs and technological sovereignty.

Liability in the atmosphere of groups of companies - Motassim, Sofia (Universitat de Barcelona, 2023)
Groups of companies are a complex corporate structure, whose regulation can be problematic, especially when it comes to liability. Indeed, liability within corporate groups draws forth a series of issues principally due to the principles of separate corporate personality and limited liability. In the context of limited liability, which is based on the notion of separate legal personality, the main issue waxes the protection of the creditors, in particular the creditors of the subsidiaries. One can find three regulatory templates for handling corporate groups and their liability: policing via general company and/or civil law (such as the English model); policing via special group legislation (such as the German model); and policing via branches of law such as insolvency law, antitrust law, and contract law, among others (which is the case in numerous jurisdictions, either coupled with the first or the second model). Lifting the corporate veil has come as an answer to corporate separateness, by permitting to ignore the shareholders’ limited liability and hold them personally liable for the debts of their companies in specific circumstances. However, one can hardly find cases in which the corporate veil has been successfully lifted, due to many factors. Other important questions that are posed in the scope of corporate groups liability are the parent company’s liability for the payment of its daughter companies’ debts when insolvency strikes and other respects, besides the matter of group liability. Furthermore, liability is as well a key player in terms of tort law, and corporate social responsibility has therefore found a place in the sun in the present climate.
Alternate link : https://diposit.ub.edu/bitstreams/83cde66e-b943-45b6-830b-831df41cb73f/download
Keywords: Ciències Jurídiques; Commercial law; Conglomerate corporations; Corporations; Derecho mercantil; Dret mercantil; Econòmiques i Socials; Grupos de empresas; Grups d'empreses; Liability (Law); Responsabilidad (Derecho); Responsabilitat (Dret); Sociedades; Societats

Analysis of Intellectual Property Rights Disputes Between PS Glow and MS Glow in View of Law No. 20 of 2016 Concerning Marks and Geographical Indications (Analysis of Decision of Case Number: 2/Pdt.Sus.HKI/Merek/2022/PN.Niaga Sby) - Gracia, Indiera Fortuna; Kurniawan, Kurniawan; Sili, Eduardus Bayo (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
This study analyzes intellectual property rights disputes between PSGlow and MSGlow in terms of Law no. 20 of 2016 concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications (analysis of case decision number: 2/pdt.sus.HKI/Merek/2022/pn.niaga Sby) which aims to explain and analyze the basic considerations of Surabaya Commercial Court judges in accepting lawsuits, explaining and analyzing how is the legal protection of trademarks that have been registered based on Law No. 20 of 2016 concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications, explaining and analyzing whether there is an element of passing off between PS Glow and MS Glow based on Case Decision Number: 2/Pdt.Sus.HKI /Merek/2022/PN. Niaga Sby.The legal materials in this research are primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials using normative research methods.The basis for consideration is that a lawsuit was filed from PS Glow for the use of the brand without rights against MS Glow. and legal protection for brands that have been registered under Law no. 20 of 2016 concerning Marks and Geographical Indications, namely that the penalties that will be imposed on these counterfeiters can be in the form of imprisonment, imprisonment and fines, as referred to in articles 100 to 102 of Law No. 20 of 2016 concerning Marks and Geographical Indications. and between PS Glow and MS Glow there is no element of passing off based on Case Decision Number: 2/Pdt.Sus.HKI/Merek/2022/PN.Niaga Sby, because the MS Glow brand registers its brand in HAKI in class 32 with the classification of powdered drinks and PS Glow registered their brand on Intellectual Property Rights in class 3 with a cosmetic classification.
Keywords: Brand; IPR; Passing off

Developing a regulatory framework for electronic commerce in the Southern African Development Community: the prospects and challenges - Chimeri, Vongai (University of Fort Hare; Faculty of Law, 2023)
Keywords: Community law; E-commerce; Electronic Commerce; Electronic Transactions; Intra-regional trade; Regional integration; SADC; SADC Model Law

The interface between competition and intellectual property law : finding common ground and resolving the tensions between these areas of law from a South African perspective - Dercksen, Juletha-Marie (Stellenbosch University, 2023)
Competition law and intellectual property law share the objective of incentivising innovation. However, this objective is achieved in different ways, which, at times, can create tension between the two areas of law. It is imperative that this tension at the interface of competition law and intellectual property law is resolved in a manner that encourages innovation. Issues regarding the licensing of intellectual property, Standard Essential Patents, pay-for-delay agreements and no-challenge clauses are instances where the tension between competition law and intellectual property law is especially prevalent. These instances will be discussed in detail, and what is learnt from how the European Union and Australia handles it, will be applied to South Africa. The European Union, Australia and South Africa have different ways of dealing with situations where the exercise of intellectual property rights has an effect on competition. The European Union has block exemptions, which contains “safe havens” for conduct in specific circumstances. The block exemptions are often accompanied by guidelines, providing firms and individuals with greater detail in order to self-assess their compliance with the exemption. Australia has authorisation, notification and class exemption procedures. Firms can apply to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to authorise conduct that might potentially breach the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Exemptions may also be granted more broadly by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in terms of the class exemption procedures. In South Africa, the law concerning the interface between competition law and intellectual property is still in its infancy, and a lot can be learned from jurisdictions like the European Union and Australia regarding the most efficient way to handle this tension. Currently, the Competition Act 89 of 1998 in South Africa contains Section 10(4), the intellectual property exemption clause. A firm can apply to the Competition Commission for an intellectual property exemption from the application of Chapter 2 of the Competition Act “to an agreement or practice, or a category of agreements or practices” which pertains to the exercise of intellectual property rights. However, it is submitted that Section 10(4), by itself, is not the most efficient mechanism to resolve the tension that arises at the interface of competition law and intellectual property law in a way that incentivises innovation. It is proposed that the exemption provision can be made more effective if it is properly applied in conjunction with class exemptions and guidelines.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127343
Keywords: Antitrust law; Australia; Competencia; Competition Act; 1998; Competition law; Conflict of laws; Intellectual property; South Africa; Trade regulation

The legal regulation of trade union recognition in South Africa in historical and comparative context - Germishuys-Burchell, Wilhelmina (Stellenbosch University, 2023)
This study investigates the impact and importance of the legal regulation of trade union recognition and associated challenges in South Africa. It evaluates the current regulation of trade union recognition, including legislation and judicial attitudes apparent from the interpretation, application, and enforcement of such legislation, to ascertain its continued appropriateness in the current South African industrial relations environment. The study considers the policy choices of both voluntarism and majoritarianism underlying the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (“LRA”) and the “workplace” constituency to which it applies as factors that might be contributing to challenges experienced in the current regulation of collective bargaining in South Africa. It evaluates the current model of trade union recognition and representativeness as it applies to the acquisition by trade unions of organisational rights, collective bargaining rights and trade union recognition for purposes of retrenchment consultation. It recognises that the specific model chosen to regulate the representative status of trade unions has a significant effect on the ability of trade unions to organise and conclude collective agreements and, as such, on the distributive effects of such agreements in the labour market and broader society. The study commences with an historical overview of the regulation of trade union recognition under the 1956 LRA and thereafter considers the 1995 LRA as a product of criticism against the 1956 LRA. Specific issues considered, largely based on the analysis of the relevant decisions by the Constitutional Court, include the following: the impact of Constitutional Court jurisprudence relating to trade union recognition on the process of collective bargaining and on the legal regulation of the right to strike; the role of representativeness and its link with the workplace as the constituency for recognition and acquisition of organisational rights; the often winner-takes-all effect of the current model on collective bargaining as a major cause of labour unrest; the reactive role the legislature has played over the past, almost three decades to address challenges; the extent to which intervention should take place to safeguard the institution of collective bargaining from being undermined as well as the regulation of collective agreements as the product of collective bargaining and as the primary source of terms and conditions of employment. The comparative review of Canadian law focuses on a number of issues selected specifically for their potential to provide insights into how the weaknesses in South African regulation may be remedied. This includes insights into the accommodation of special or significant minority interests and how to address recognition in the context of multi-location employers. The thesis concludes with remarks on the insights gained from the Canadian model and the 1956 LRA. Where appropriate, suggestions are made on the way forward for South Africa as to the appropriate regulation of trade union recognition and representativeness.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127125
Keywords: Collective bargaining; Collective labor agreements; Dismissal of employees; Employee rights; Industrial laws and legislation; Labor disputes; Labor unions; South Africa

Holding multinational corporations liable for their transnational environmental harms : a search for global liability - Roxburgh, Craig (Stellenbosch University, 2023)
For several decades, environmentalists have raised the alarm regarding the impending environmental catastrophe that results from the Anthropocene. Much attention has been given to the role that States play in contributing to ecological damage being wrought upon the Earth. However, we have only looked at the environmental destruction perpetrated by multinational companies (“MNCs”) in the past decade. Natural disasters like the Deepwater Horizon explosion have placed MNCs' dangerous impact on the environment in sharp relief. At the same time, revelations in the Carbon Majors Report and global litigation quantify the damage MNCs cause to the environment. Multinational companies (“MNCs), as a result of globalisation and trade liberalisation, are powerful entities within the global economy. Despite their size, MNCs remain primarily unregulated in international human rights law. Debates regarding who bears the duty for human rights intersect with a battle of political will between the Global North and Global South for developing binding human rights duties for MNCs. As a result, they can commit environmental harm, especially in the Global South, with relative impunity due to a lack of effective liability mechanisms. The doctrine of separate legal personality creates specific issues for holding MNCs liable for environmental harms in the Global South. Domestic courts in home States struggle to exercise jurisdiction over the environmental harms MNCs commit. In contrast, systemic barriers in host States create situations where victims are unable to seek redress within their State. To address these concerns, this thesis proposes a global liability regime founded on the principle of integrated regulation. This regime will utilise regulation at the institutional, national and international levels to enforce the environmental obligations of MNCs, rooted in the right to a healthy environment. This gives rise to multiple intersection human rights obligations which will regulate the behaviour of MNCs. This thesis recognises that such a framework requires a drastic reform in how the law and companies are conceptualised. However, such a reform would have wide-reaching implications for vindicating human rights violations.
Keywords: Corporations; Developing countries; Environmental law; Environmental protection; International business enterprises; International cooperation; Liability for environmental damages; Offenses against the environment

Mandatory Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Regulations: ESG Performance, Corporate Finance, and Investment - Michael, Emmanuel (Victoria University of Wellington, 2023)
This thesis investigates the relationship between cross-country mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations and firm-level outcomes, such as ESG performance, corporate finance, and investment, for both developing and developed countries. ESG performance is initially examined to determine whether mandatory ESG regulations affect it and to what extent. Second, the study investigates the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment. Lastly, the study explores whether mandatory ESG regulations affect firm-level outcomes based on countries' governance and economic systems, and industries. The study uses a large sample of 69,010 firm-years across 73 countries, over the period 2005 – 2020 to address the foregoing issues. In addressing the impact of mandatory ESG regulations on ESG performance, the study employs a difference-in-differences (DiD) design. The DiD technique can isolate the effect of regulatory shocks to firm-level outcomes. According to the DiD analysis conducted, cross-country mandatory ESG improves firm-level ESG performance in developed countries, but not in developing countries. The study also concludes that mandatory ESG regulations have a positive impact only on ESG components in developed countries and have a more dominant impact on environmental (E) component. The findings are robust to a range of checks and test cases, including a triple DiD design set-up and propensity score-matched sample. The study employs an investment Euler equation framework and generalised method of moments (GMM) estimators to explore how mandatory ESG impacts corporate finance and investment. Euler frameworks account for the dynamic nature of investment, whereas GMMs account for endogenous dynamics in dynamic models. The study demonstrates that mandatory ESG increases corporate investment by increasing firms' access to external funds. The findings are robust to a battery of tests, including a triple DiD design set-up, propensity score-matched sample and the parallel trends assumption. Using an investment Euler equation framework and the GMM estimators, the study explores whether the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment is dependent on a country's governance and economic system. When mandatory ESG is affected by country factors such as governance systems and economic well-being, the effect of mandatory ESG on investment via internal finance channel persists, according to the study. However, while consistent results are found in developed countries, inconsistent results are found in developing countries. According to the study, oil, gas, and mining firms are likely to respond effectively to mandatory ESG regulations because of increased scrutiny and pressure. Overall, the findings from the study imply that cross-country mandatory ESG has had a positive impact on corporate ESG performance, finance, and investment. For firms located in developed countries, these findings hold consistently, while for those located in developing countries, the opposite holds true. Also, the study reveals that firms in the oil, gas, and mining industries effectively respond to regulatory requirements. As a result, this study provides policy makers and accountants with an understanding of how mandatory ESG impacts firm ESG activities and performance, which is crucial for regulatory reforms.
Keywords: Corporate Finance; Cross-Sectional Analysis; Developed countries; Developing countries; Economic Models and Forecasting; Finance; Financial Economics; Investment; Investment Euler equation; Mandatory ESG disclosure regulations; Panel Data Analysis; Sustainability Accounting and Reporting; Time-Series Analysis

Challenges of CSR in Sub-Saharan Africa: clarifying the gaps between the regulations and human rights issues - Ndong Ntoutoume, Achille Gildas (International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, 2023)
This paper discusses the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main purpose is to highlight and clarify the gaps between CSR regulations and human rights abuses caused by business organizations.
Keywords: Business and human rights; CSR; Stakeholders; Sub-Saharan Africa

Banking System Fragility in Nigeria: Hanging on the Precipice? - Kayode, Peter; Oluwole, Foluso (AAU Journal of Business and Law, 2023)
The health of a country’s banking system is a key determinant to the development of the country. A fragile banking system portends danger not only to the financial system but the entire economy. This study investigates the state of the Nigerian banking system in terms of stability or fragility from 1981 to 2020. We used the banking system fragility index (BSFI) proposed by Kibritçioğlu (2003) to analyze Nigerian banking industry aggregate data from three risk areas: credit, market and liquidity. We estimated that out of the 40 years examined, the banking system was fragile for 23 years given their BSFI less than 0 while it was not fragile for 17 years with BSFI = 0 or greater. We found that most of the years when the Nigerian banking system was fragile were periods of relaxed monetary policies, deregulation and credit expansion. Secondly, the years of banking system stability were when the county’s banking system was subjected to stiff regulation and consolidation. Given the number of years that the system was fragile, we observed that sustained economic growth and development requires that the banking system remain strong as long as possible, and that the Nigerian situation could not promote this important objective. We recommend that the financial regulatory authorities put in place more stringent policies as banks are more fragile during the deregulation of the banking industry.
AAU Journal of Business and Law مجلة جامعة العين للأعمال والقانون
Keywords: Banking system fragility; Precipice

Who Are the Best Law Firms? Rankings from IPO Performance - Bates, Thomas W.; Lv, Jin Roc; Neyland, Jordan (The Journal of Corporation Law, 2023)
Recent scandals have brought rankings to the forefront of the legal profession. Several of the most prestigious academic institutions have withdrawn from being ranked, citing the problematic nature of the rankings. However, rankings persist for both legal academics and practice, and there is substantial sentiment to improve the methodologies, with little detail as to how to improve. In this paper, we rank law firms on their clients’ IPO performance. We focus on the most relevant outcomes: litigation, first-day returns, disclosure, and legal fees. The focus on these measures provides benefits relative to other methodologies, which typically focus on inputs or size-related characteristics. Namely, this ranking is less manipulable and more accurately captures performance metrics that matter most to clients’ shareholders. Our rankings control for observable and unobservable deal characteristics, which helps ensure we capture law firm quality, not client traits. With the rankings based on legal fees, potential clients can compare the benefits of a particular law firm (e.g., lower litigation or higher selling prices) against the additional cost of hiring a higher-quality law firm. Hence, our rankings allow for a value-for-the-money comparison of law firms for clients selling shares in an IPO.
Keywords: Disclosure; IPO; Lawyers; Litigation; Rankings; Securities Regulation

The Double Life of State-Owned Enterprises in International Economic Law: States, Corporations or Both? - Kikarea, Eirini (University of Cambridge, 2023)
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have recently gained prominence in global markets and feature among the world’s most influential enterprises. The aim of this research project is to analyse the international norms in force regulating whether SOEs are considered state or non- state actors, and their conduct state or non-state conduct, the interpretation and application of these norms by adjudicators in different international regimes, and to provide alternative prisms through which these rules and decisions can be assessed and re-thought by political actors. I show that, in relation to SOEs, the concepts ‘state and ‘act of state’ have been ascribed diverse meanings by adjudicators and other international actors, who have employed legal standards with divergent wording and thresholds when dealing with similar questions. I argue that the fragmented meaning of these terms should be understood, in part, as a result of the inherent malleability of these terms and the different expert vocabularies employed across regimes. It is exhibited that adjudicators in the international trade and investment regimes are more inclined towards piercing the corporate veil of SOEs, potentially evidencing the existence of biases against SOEs, which are perceived as inherently economically inefficient and politically motivated actors in an indiscriminatory manner. In the last chapter, I introduce alternative lines of thought regarding the regulation of SOEs in international law. I suggest that, instead of engaging in theoretical discussions on the proper delineation between the public and the private sector, it is more useful to focus on the distributional impact of international rules on various actors, especially on developing and emerging economies where the presence of SOEs is very high. Such alternative prisms of analysis open paths for future research and practice, with the goal of designing an international economic order that incentivises institutional experimentation in the pursuit of economic development and distributional equity.
Keywords: International Economic Law; International Investment Law; International law; International trade law; Public enterprises; State capitalism; State-owned enterprises

Third Party Funding in International Arbitration: A Critical Appraisal and Pragmatic Proposal - Sweify, Mohamed (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023)
The author of Third Party Funding in International Arbitration challenges the structural inconsistencies of the current practices of arbitration funding by arguing that third party funding should be a forum of justice, rather than a forum of profit. The author introduces a new methodology with an alternative way of structuring third party funding to solve a set of practical problems generated by the risk of claim control by the funder.
Keywords: ACCESS TO JUSTICE; Arbitrage; Arbitral justice; Arbitration; Claim control; Dispute outcome; Financement; Funders; Third Party Funding; Tiers

Legal Protection of Trade Secret from the View of Civil and Criminal Law - Atika, Atika (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
Indonesia has ratified the WTO/TRIPs Agreement convention and is in full compliance and non-reservation, the insistence of developed countries’ owners of Intellectual Property Rights against Indonesia, and the need for national Intellectual Property Rights. By looking at the above, legal protection is needed for every product and service, especially licenses for trade secrets in the Intellectual Property Rights component. The state imposes criminal sanctions on violators of Trade Secret rights as stipulated in chapter 17 (1) constitution number 30/2000. However, it is also hoped that the act of imposing sanctions by the state will return to the interests of the protected party by making the crime a complaint offense chapter 17 (2) constitution number 30/2000. There are repressive legal actions that can be carried out as chapter 11 constitution number 30/2000 states that the holder of trade secret rights or the licensee may sue anyone who deliberately or without rights commits the actions referred to in the article in the form of (a). Compensations claim and/or; (b). Cessation of all actions referred to in chapter 4 constitution number 30/2000.
Keywords: Intellectual Property Rights; Legal Protection; Trade Secrets

Investigation of Investor-State Arbitration Problems in Afghanistan - Nikzad, Nezamuddin; Anwari, Gulaqa (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
The main purpose of this research is to explain and identify the major Investor-State Arbitration (ISA) problems in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's government is committed to providing legal security for the resolution of foreign investment disputes. The dispute resolution system's assessment is very important for foreign investors because they pay special attention to the dispute resolution system and consider it a criterion for their investments. This research will be the first comprehensive study about the Investor-State Arbitration problems in Afghanistan. In the writing of this research, the library method has been used. To extract reasons, laws, books, articles, and reliable scientific sources have been used. Afghanistan is a good market for foreign investment because it has good investment opportunities in different sectors. Foreign investors can choose the easiest and best mechanisms, such as arbitration in their contracts to deal with disputes. But the resolution of foreign investment through arbitration has some problems, and sometimes foreign investors are facing challenges with the settlement of their disputes through arbitration internationally and domestically in Afghanistan.
Keywords: Arbitration; Dispute; Foreign Investment; Investigation in Afghanistan; Problems

Procedural powers of arbitrators in international arbitration- Real or perfunctory? - Mishra, Ajit Kumar (International Journal of Law, 2023)
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Arbitrator; International Arbitration; Lex arbitri; Procedural powers; Tribunal power

The Dilemma of International Arbitration Awards in Indonesia - Puspita, Lona; Budiono, Abdul Rachmad; Kusumadara, Afifah; Widagdo, Setyo (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2023)
The final and binding nature of international arbitral awards results in the nullification of the rights of the parties to file legal remedies against the arbitral award, as is the case with decisions of national courts that can be appealed, appealed, or reviewed. However, Article 68 paragraph (2) of Law Number 30 of 1999 concerning arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution provides an opportunity for parties who refuse to recognize and implement an international arbitral award that can be appealed to, as well as Article 70 must also be explained that Article this applies only to national arbitrations. This of course creates legal uncertainty, disuse, and injustice for the parties. Therefore, what is highlighted in this research is what is the position of the final and binding international arbitration award in Indonesia. The research method used in this article is legal research using primary and secondary legal materials. The results of the research show that the position of international arbitral awards in Indonesia is not the same as the decisions of national courts because they cannot be appealed, cassated, and reviewed. Therefore, it is necessary to completely amend international arbitration arrangements by removing Article 68 paragraph (2) of Law Number 30 of 1999 concerning Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution in order to provide legal certainty, benefit, and justice for the parties.
Keywords: Award; Final and Binding; International Arbitration

The adoption of international financial reporting standards and foreign direct investment inflows: the moderating effect of the institutional environment in Africa - Simbi, Chipo (Rhodes University; Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2023)
Globalisation has created a need for an international accounting language to facilitate the smooth flow of trade across countries. In 2003, in an effort to establish a global financial reporting language, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) developed a single set of high-quality accounting principles known as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Over the last decade, several African countries have adopted IFRS, and Africa has become the second-largest adopting continent after Europe. IFRS promotes improved quality of disclosure of accounting transactions, reduces information asymmetry between preparers and users of financial information, lowers the cost of investing, and breaks down information barriers to cross-border investment. Researchers suggest many benefits of IFRS adoption for macroeconomic indicators such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The reduction in information acquisition and processing costs which translates into the reduction in investment costs, has been cited by most researchers. Researchers have argued, however, that the economic benefits of IFRS in Africa depend on the strength of the institutional environment. They also argue that the Western environment in which the IFRS was developed differs from the African environment. Thus, the universal approach of the IASB may not be appropriate due to the historical, social, economic and political context of African countries. The impact of the adoption of IFRS by African countries requires further examination, particularly as a weak institutional environment confronts many African countries. Three research questions are designed for this study; (1) Is there a significant change in FDI inflows for IFRS adopters in selected African countries after the adoption? (2) Is there a significant change in FDI inflows due to the institutional environment? (3) Does the institutional environment in IFRS-adopting countries moderate the effect of IFRS on FDI in selected African countries? The present study is underpinned by the new institutional theory, the information asymmetry theory, the eclectic theory and the signalling theory, each of which provide reasons why African countries have adopted IFRS. Nine hypotheses are developed, based on the research questions, and tested using the Systems General Method of Moments and the Difference-in-Difference method. The study uses data from 26 African countries, 15 adopting and 11 non-adopting countries, over the period 1996 - 2018. First, the study establishes that the adoption of IFRS positively and significantly affects FDI inflows into the selected sample of African countries. Second, the study concludes that legal enforcement, accounting and auditing standards enforcement, and language origin positively and significantly impact FDI inflows into these countries. Legal origin, however, has a positive but insignificant association with FDI inflows. Third, legal enforcement, historical ties, accounting and auditing enforcement and the quality of the institutional environment are found to moderate the effect of IFRS adoption on FDI inflows. These results indicate that IFRS is a crucial determinant of FDI inflows into African countries, but a supportive institutional environment is needed for African countries to attract FDI inflows after adoption. The results contribute to the accounting and finance literature on FDI into African countries, and may assist the investment community to assess the institutional risk associated with investing in IFRS adopting African countries.
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419230
Keywords: Accounting; Auditing; Difference in differences; FDI; Foreign direct investment; Generalized method of moments; IFRS adoption; Institutional infrastructure; International Financial Reporting Standards; Investments

Legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers of regional economic communities as a catalyst to the realisation of the African continental free trade area - Achancho Etagha Epse Abia, Elisabeth (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2023)
Legal harmonisation is an integral aspect of regional integration and the desire to promote regional and sub-regional economic integration in Africa is exemplified by the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018. The 2012 decision of the AU to create the CFTA by 2017 was reiterated in Aspiration two of Agenda 2063. The legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers has been a vital instrument in the achievement of EU economic integration and the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Laws in Africa (OHADA). The study seeks to critically examine the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of regional integration and legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers by the AU and RECs. It also analyses the current political, economic, and legal reinforcements to regionalism in Africa and practices needed to advance intra-regional trade within the framework of Agenda 2063. This was done by evaluating the key legal frameworks of the AU (the Abuja Treaty, the Constitutive Act of AU, 2007 Protocol on relations between AU and RECs and Agenda 2063) with the aim of identifying best practices, gaps and impediments pertinent to strengthening Agenda 2063 CFTA. At the end of the study, the abilities of three selected RECs (SADC, COMESA and EAC) were assessed to drive home the AfCFTA. This was done by identifying flaws in existing treaties of RECs, while advancing a model of legal harmonisation of NTBs between them. It was found out that the AU and RECs have not vigorously considered the significance of legal harmonisation in their integration agendas. This resulted in the lack of unambiguous and concrete provisions for the legal harmonisation of NTBs in their guiding policies. Where some attempts are evident, such as in the EAC, they have been implemented unsatisfactorily with lack of a compliance mechanism. This study contended that if legal barriers to free trade are not eliminated, even if all other barriers were to be removed, the effective realisation of the AfCFTA would still be hindered. Hence, this study recommends the principles of direct applicability and direct effects of regional laws to addressing the legal harmonisation challenge underscored. Iqoqa Ukuvumelanisa okusemthethweni kwezithiyo ezingakhokhiswa intela kuyisici esibalulekile sokudidiyelwa kwesifunda kanye nesifiso sokugqugquzela ukuhlanganiswa komnotho wesifunda kanye nesifunda esincane e-Afrikha sibonakala ngokusungulwa kweNdawo Yezwekazi Lase-Afrikha Yokuhweba Ngokukhululekile (i-AfCFTA) ngowezi-2018. Isinqumo sowezi-2012 se-AU sokwakha i-CFTA ngowezi-2017 saphindwa Esifisweni Sesibili soHlelo- 2063. I-CFTA iphinde ibe wuhlelo olubalulekile oHlelweni-2063 futhi impumelelo yayo ibalulekile. Ucwaningo luhlose ukuhlola ngokujulile izisekelo zethiyori nezomqondo zokuhlanganiswa kwesifunda kanye nokuvunyelaniswa kwezomthetho kwezithiyo ezingakhokhisi yi-AU kanye nama-REC. Iphinde ihlaziye ukuqiniswa kwamanje kwezepolitiki, ezomnotho, kanye nezomthetho kuzwelonke e-Afrikha kanye nezinqubo ezidingekayo ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukuhwebelana kwangaphakathi kwesifunda ngaphakathi kohlaka loHlelo-2063. Lokhu kwenziwa ngokuhlola izinhlaka zomthetho ezibalulekile ze-AU (iSivumelwano sase-Abuja, UMthetho-sisekelo we-AU, 2007 Protocol on relationship between AU and RECs and Agenda 2063) ngenhloso yokuhlonza izindlela ezingcono kakhulu, amagebe kanye nezithiyo ezihambisana nokuqinisa uHlelo-2063 CFTA. Ekupheleni kocwaningo, amakhono ama-REC amathathu akhethiwe (i-SADC, i-COMESA kanye ne-EAC) ahlolwa ukuze aqhubekisele phambili i-AfCFTA. Lokhu kwenziwa ngokuhlonza amaphutha ezivumelwaneni ezikhona zama-RECs, ngenkathi kuthuthukiswa imodeli yokuvumelana okusemthethweni kwama-NTB phakathi kwawo. Kwatholakala ukuthi osopolitiki base-Afrikha abazange bayicabange indlela eqinile yokuhlanganisa umnotho wesifunda, nakuba indlela enjalo yaphakanyiswa abasunguli besifunda sase-Afrikha. I-AU kanye nama-REC awazange acabangele ngamandla ukubaluleka kokuvumelana kwezomthetho ezinhlelweni zawo zokuhlanganisa. Lokhu kuholele ekuntulekeni kwezinhlinzeko ezicacile nezibambekayo zokuvumelana ngokusemthethweni kwama-NTB kuzinqubomgomo eziqondisayo. Lolu cwaningo lwagomela ngokuthi uma izithiyo ezingokomthetho zokuhwebelana ngokukhululeka zingaqedwa, ngisho noma zonke ezinye izithiyo zizosuswa, ukufezeka ngempumelelo kwe-AfCFTA kusazothikamezwa. Ngaphakathi kwalokhu kwangemuva, lolu cwaningo luncoma izimiso zokusebenziseka okuqondile kanye nemiphumela eqondile yemithetho yesifunda ukuze kubhekwane nenselele yokuvumelana kwezomthetho egcizelelwe.
Keywords: Common External Tariff; Direct Effect; Legal harmonisation

Environmental protection under national legislation and agreements between oil and gas multinational corporations and host communities - Adedipe, F. (Canterbury Christ Church University, 2023)
The exploration, production and shipment of crude oil and gas by multinational corporations (MNCs), involved in bilateral treaties in Nigeria has perpetrated environmental disasters upon host communities. This has been as a result of oil and gas leaks from MNCs facility into the air, land, water, marine habitat, and cultural life of host communities are heavily polluted. International law has attempted to regulate the activities of MNCs particularly in the protection of the environment in which they operate through four main treaties: Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 2 Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration)3and Declaration of the United Nations on Environment and Development (Rio Declaration). In addition, the demand for environmental protection is foregrounded under the right to life recognized in article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). However, a major criticism of international law is its inapplicability to non-State actors such as corporations. This creates a lacuna in the legal framework of protections which has been exploited by opportunistic MNC’s. International soft law such as the Global Compact, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights encourages corporations to respect environmental rights and creates substantive standards for States to hold corporations accountable for environmental and human rights violations. The challenge remains that these international laws having soft law status are not binding on corporations. Also, a further problem is that several developing state governments may be complicit in the environmental abuses perpetrated by MNCs for the purpose of boosting economic development. Therefore, this research proposes the regulation of MNCs under national legislation and bilateral investment treaties. It recommends certain preventive and mitigation measures against the adverse environmental effect of their activities in the exploration of natural resources, waste disposal and other connected operations in developing communities in Nigeria. Some of these preventive measures include environmental impact assessment (EIA), mandatory reporting and disclosures, community stakeholder participation, environmental management and safety practices, with activity, temporal and spatial management as mitigation measures. Also, clean-up and compensation by MNCs are effective remedies for environmental abuses. Furthermore, fines, blacklisting, withdrawal of license and criminal charges are recommended for the enforcement of environmental protection of host communities.
Permalink: https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/95yw5/environmental-protection-under-national-legislation-and-agreements-between-oil-and-gas-multinational-corporations-and-host-communities
Keywords: Agreement; Environment (protection); Host communities; Multinational corporations; Oil and Gas Industry

African Economic Integration Initiatives and the Challenge of Responsible Business Conducts: Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Provisions in African Regional Trade and Investment Agreements - Azapmo, Jean Bertrand (Revue Interventions économiques, 2023)
Left alone, economic integration initiatives, which aim to promote growth through investment and trade liberalization, do not automatically generate win-win outcomes for all stakeholders, or lead to the inclusive economic growth and sustainable development of participating countries. This situation which is due among others to possible market failures and externalities of corporations’ activities, has increasingly become a matter of concern with the numerous corruption scandals; human rights violations and environmental degradation involving corporations observed in a recent past. How therefore to continue promoting economic integration while ensuring socially responsible conducts from businesses in societies where they operate? One approach that has recently gained traction is the institutionalization of corporate social responsibility (CSR) clauses in trade and investment agreements. This paper analyses 10 African regional trade and investment agreements concluded between 2000 and 2020 to determine the extent to which they converge with this trend and the approach adopted in regulating CSR. The research complements the literature on the nexus between international law and CSR in the African context. Laissées à elles-mêmes, les initiatives d'intégration économique, qui visent à promouvoir la croissance par la libéralisation commerciale et économique, ne génèrent pas automatiquement des résultats gagnant-gagnant pour toutes les parties prenantes, ou ne conduisent pas à la croissance économique inclusive et au développement durable des pays participants. Cette situation, qui est due entre autres à d’éventuelles défaillances du marché et à des externalités des activités des entreprises, est devenue de plus en plus préoccupante avec les nombreux scandales de corruption, de violation des droits de l’homme et de dégradation de l’environnement impliquant des entreprises. Comment donc continuer à promouvoir l'intégration économique tout en garantissant des comportements socialement responsables des entreprises dans les sociétés où elles opèrent ? Une approche qui a récemment gagné du terrain est l'institutionnalisation des clauses de responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) dans les accords de commerce et d'investissement. Cet article analyse 10 accords régionaux africains de commerce et d'investissement conclus entre 2000 et 2020 pour déterminer dans quelle mesure ils convergent avec cette tendance à l’institutionnalisation des clauses sur la RSE, et l'approche adoptée dans la réglementation de la RSE. La recherche complète la littérature sur le lien entre le droit international et la RSE dans le contexte africain.
Keywords: Accords régionaux d'investissement; Accords régionaux de commerce; AfCFTA; CEDEAO; Corporate Social Responsibility; ECOWAS and SADC; Economic integration; Intégration économique; SADC; ZLECAf; regional trade and investment agreements; responsabilité sociale des entreprises

The regulation of Corporate phoenix activity in South Africa - Basson, André Stephan (University of Johannesburg, 2023)
Phoenix activity involves conduct whereby a failing company (the old company) is replaced by a second company (the new company) in the operation of the same or a similar business and that involves the same or similar company controllers. Transactions of this nature can be legal and even be beneficial to society, since entrepreneurs who pursue a viable business may, if the new company succeeds, benefit the economy and many other stakeholders. These transactions are referred to as legal phoenix activity. Problems arise however when phoenix activity is engaged in with the goal of evading the debt of the old company, known as illegal phoenix activity. In other cases, even well-intentioned company controllers can cause significant harm by resurrecting a fundamentally flawed business. This conduct, although not illegal, is unduly prejudicial to stakeholders and is known as problematic phoenix activity. While this thesis focuses on illegal phoenix activity, several measures identified should also curb problematic phoenix activity. This study identifies the elements and common characteristics of illegal phoenix activity. It then analyses regulation pertaining to those elements and common characteristics with the aim of finding effective solutions to the problem. This includes evaluating measures that reverse prejudicial transactions that occur during illegal phoenix activity as well as holding complicit parties, such as company controllers and the new company, accountable for their actions. Regulation aimed at preventing and investigating illegal phoenix activity is also considered. This thesis uses the comparative legal approach to analyse regulatory responses to illegal phoenix activity. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are examined. Several reported cases in South Africa involving what appear to be illegal phoenix activity are explored, along with the existing measures that are applicable to illegal phoenix activity in South Africa. A single anti-phoenix provision is undesirable as it has the potential to unjustifiably infringe on legal phoenix activity. This thesis proposes a multi-pronged approach, which involves a combination of better enforcement of existing laws and the introduction of smaller targeted amendments to legislation aimed at reducing the incidence illegal phoenix activity.
Keywords: ABUSE OF THE CORPORATE FORM; Bankruptcy fraud; Evasion of liability; Fraud on creditors; Phoenix activity; Phoenixism; Strategic bankruptcy; Successor liability; Transactions prejudicing creditors; Transfers at an undervalue

A legal analysis on how France, Germany, the European Union and South Africa responded to the United Nations guiding principles on business and human rights - Buis, Jeanette (University of Pretoria, 2023)
Globally, companies pursue profitability; they want lower prices for the goods they buy and for the services they use. To gain profit and keep their prices low, they contribute to human rights violations and/or the devastation of the environment. The UNGP is the UN unanimously endorsed instrument that encourages states to pass legislation to compel companies to exercise human rights due diligence and to report on their efforts. The United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP) impose a duty on companies to conduct human rights due diligence that apprises them of possible human rights or environmental risk exposure in their international operations. States have a responsibility to assist those harmed by a company’s activities to seek judicial relief. The UNGP is a soft law instrument but has had a major effect in the field of business and human rights. Though a voluntary obligation, the UNGP has become the reference document and is used by Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to pressure states into passing regulations on business and human rights. In 2016 Germany passed a National Action Plan (NAP) and the Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtgesetz (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act) in 2021. France passed a Vigilance Law (Loi de Vigilance) in 2017. Additionally, a UN resolution has initiated a treaty-making process, which might lead to an internationally legally binding instrument that will articulate companies’ responsibilities to avoid, mitigate and remedy human rights violations that their activities cause. The South African government’s response to the UNGP has focused on negotiating a legally binding instrument at an intergovernmental level. This research examines three countries’ varying responses to the UNGP, a soft law instrument. In February 2022 the EU Commission published a proposed directive on corporate sustainability due diligence. The proposed EU legislation aims to advance respect for human rights and environmental protection. The goal is to create a level playing field within the European Union which leads to the exploration of the role China plays in a globalised world. China aims to be more than the world's factory and to become a leader in innovation and high-end manufacturing.
URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/93522
Keywords: CSR; Corporate Social Responsibility; Corporate governance; Human rights due diligence; Mandatory corporate due diligence; RSE; United Nations Guiding Principles; responsabilité sociale des entreprises

Redesigning Protection for Consumer Autonomy: The case-study of dark patterns in European private law - Guerra, Giorgia (FrancoAngeli, 2023)
European legal protection of consumer autonomy has been significantly changed in the digital environment, where algorithm-driven systems perform everything. This book focuses on protecting consumer autonomy facing the pervasive and global phenomenon of dark patterns: the expression includes various tactics that manipulate consumers by altering online choice architecture to thwart user preferences for objectionable ends. Overloading, skipping, stirring, hindering, and flicking are examples. Moving from the perspective that the sole traditional information approach is ineffective in protecting autonomy, the adopted methodology considers the multiple concerns revolving around the tight combination of transparent information and fair digital architectural design. Consequently, the comparative study of the new suitable regulatory directions arises across different legal fields, including data protection, consumer, and competition law. The relationship between deceptive designs, the nature of human-digital architecture interaction, and the techno-legal paradigms emphasises which future changes in European private law could integrate legal rules into fair designs to protect digital consumer autonomy effectively. Specific importance will be attributed to the functionality of comparative methodology to include non-legal essential insights (e.g. behavioural, informatic elements) into pragmatic and global regulatory paths and models.
Accepted: 2024-02-06T15:32:18Z
Keywords: Autonomy; Consumer law; Dark Patterns; Data protection law; Design regulation; Digital law; European private law

The commercial sexual exploitation of children perpetrated by the private sector: can international law be improved? - Hecht, Mark (Université de Sherbrooke, 2023)
International law is a robust system designed to unite world governments in an effort to, inter alia, cease human rights violations and hold those who commit them accountable. As it currently stands, and by its own design, the international human rights legal regime focuses on and applies only to state actors, meaning that violations committed by non-state actors, such as multinational corporations (MNCs), are seemingly conducted with impunity inside this space. Multinational corporations are powerful international players that have undoubtably fostered a significant role in reducing global barriers. By their very nature, they are far more mobile than states, allowing them to evade domestic power and regulatory schemes by detaching from their home state and relocating to a host state with weaker oversight and/or enforcement powers. Simply stated: even though MNCs have better financing, heightened mobility, and a disproportionate amount of influence when compared to world states, they operate with less global accountability. Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a fundamental violation of children’s rights. It consists of sexual abuse by the adult and remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person or persons. The child is treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object. Multinational corporations have been implicated in CSEC through acts of omission and commission. And despite the fact that much international law has been drafted to protect children around the world from CSEC—most notably the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols—the numbers of children who have been emotionally and physically harmed by and through MNC conduct has only increased in the past decade. There have been numerous efforts by international organizations to address the challenges when regulating and monitoring human rights violations by MNCs. States, civil society organizations, and the private sector itself have also attempted to address these human rights violations through domestic law, modifying international law principles, and with civil regulation. Obstacles exist in the effectiveness of each of these approaches, leaving children at risk with no single effective strategy to combat and address rights violations by MNCs. The dissertation conducts a review of the current landscape of child law, through the lens of corporate accountability for CSEC. Then, it suggests a new alternative, putting forward an international solution to an international problem.
Keywords: Commercial sexual exploitation of children; Convention on the rights of the child; Corporate Social Responsibility; International child law

Effective Conflict Management - International Chamber of Commerce (ICC DRS Publications, 2023)

The International Validity of Domestic Law in Investment-Treaty Arbitration - Jarrett, Martin (Arbitration international, 2023)
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Investment arbitration; Investments

Land Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring Interested Parties Perspectives on Cameroon's Land Tenure and Land Law Reform. - Kenfack Kenjio, Jacques Wilfried (Antioch University, 2023)
This research study seeks to understand interested parties’ perspectives on Cameroon's existing land tenure systems, the 1974 land law, and ongoing efforts to reform this land law. It identifies both concerns and specific recommendations from these parties on the formulation and implementation of future reforms. In the decades following the achievement of independence from European colonizers, most governments in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have adopted new national land tenure policies to meet their countries’ needs and aspirations. In some parts of SSA, however, this process of land tenure formalization has negatively impacted the land rights of people observing customary land tenure. This has been a result of government interventions such as compulsory land acquisitions, which while technically legal, are ethically questionable. In the face of this challenge, efforts to reform post-colonial land laws have become a matter of urgency. A national land reform process for Cameroon, announced in 2011 has adopted a multistakeholder approach. My study seeks to understand interested parties’ perspectives on Cameroon’s existing land tenure systems, the 1974 land law, and ongoing efforts to reform the land law. This study applied a case study methodological approach and a convergent mixed-method design. Evidence from this study shows that interested parties in Cameroon are in agreement on 1) the reform of the 1974 land law, 2) the recognition of customary land tenure, 3) the continued use of multistakeholder participation in land law reform, and 4) the promulgation of the new land law through mass sensitization and information dissemination.
URI: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1684431556060359
Keywords: Government-Driven Land Dispossessions; Land Expropriations; Land Law; Land Reform; Land Tenure; Mixed Methods; Multistakeholder Participation; Sub-Saharan Africa

Critical Review of the Adoption of the Uncitral Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration in Africa - Mboya, Rachael A. (University of Nairobi, 2023)
Accepted: 2024-09-28T07:32:41Z

The Law Applicable to Security Interests in Intermediated Securities Under OHADA Law - Monsenepwo Mwakwaye, Justin (Mohr Siebeck, 2023)
In recent decades, the technical handling of custody business in the OHADA region has undergone a lasting change. There has been a shift from a direct to an indirect holding system, in which the interests of an investor in respect of the underlying securities are recorded in the books of an intermediary (such as a bank or a securities firm). Under the law of all states within the OHADA region, the traditional conflict of laws rule for determining the enforceability of a securities pledge that occurs in the indirect holding system is the lex rei sitae (or the lex cartae sitae or the lex situs ) rule. However, the traditional lex rei sitae rule cannot be appropriately applied to a system where the dematerialised securities are held through multiple layers of intermediaries located in different jurisdictions. Yet, until the intermediated system and the collateralisation of intermediated securities in the OHADA region will continue to operate in somewhat legally murky waters, leading to more instability in the financial markets. Therefore, Justin Monsenepwo aims to find an appropriate and consistent approach that reflects the reality of the indirect holding system in the OHADA region. “This publication is essential reading for policy makers, academics, market participants, and legal practitioners in the OHADA region and beyond. I am convinced that its in-depth analysis of OHADA’s substantive and conflict of laws rules will go a long way in filling the gap in this area and encouraging further development in the future.” Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the „Hague Conference on Private International Law“ – HCCH in the foreword
Keywords: Commercial; Commercial law; Comparative; Comparative law; Competencia; Competition law; Conflict of laws; Law; Private international law

The Autonomy Doctrine in the Law of Letters of Credit and Demand Guarantees in Libya, Egypt and England: A Comparative Study - Mukhtar Elhouderi, Tajeldin Eissa Saleh (University of Leicester, 2023)
Letters of credit and demand guarantees play a prominent role in financing international trade. They provide assurance of payment and security for the performance of contractual obligations and have been described as the ‘lifeblood’ of international commerce. Autonomy is the central principle for the instruments of letters of credit and demand guarantees. Under the autonomy principle, the bank’s undertaking to pay for the beneficiary ought to be independent of the diversity of other relationships arising from the underlying contract. In spite of the autonomous nature of these instruments, in certain cases, the national laws will recognise some exceptions or limitations that restrict the application of the doctrine of autonomy. Exceptions such as fraud, nullity, and illegality will allow the national courts to interfere and override the autonomy doctrine by considering other matters, even those concerning the underlying contract. Furthermore, the exceptions of unconscionability or abuse of rights have an effective role in providing deep solutions, especially with regard to the problem of abusive calls for demand guarantees. The autonomy principle is recognised under Libyan commercial law but has yet to form the subject of serious academic literature covering its legal aspects. This study, in part, aims to fill that gap and will examine the extent to which legal aspects govern the principle of autonomy and its exceptions under Libyan law with reference to the new Libyan Commercial Code. A comparison of the laws in England, Libya, and Egypt will be conducted to examine how legal matters concerning autonomy and its restrictions in their laws are addressed. Furthermore, consideration will be given to the experience of Singapore, particularly with regard to the unconscionability and nullity exceptions. The results of this study will consider many different exceptions to autonomy and suggest that fraud is not the only exception to autonomy and that it is not imperative that all exceptions in letters of credit be equally applied to demand guarantees.
Keywords: Commerce international; Comparative study; Contractual obligations; Egypt; England; International Trade; International commerce; Letter of credit; Letter of guarantee; Lettre de crédit; Lettre de garantie; Libya; Obligation contractuelle

The concept of separate legal personality in South African company law: A critical examination of its origins, developments and current application - Myeni, Siphosethu (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2023)
Section 19(1) of the current Companies Act 71 of 2008 states that once a company is incorporated in accordance with this Act, it is considered as a juristic person and exists indefinitely until its name is removed from the companies register. It exists independently from its shareholders and controllers. This effect grants the company with characteristics of a natural person. This analogy implies complete independence of the company. However, this concept finds refuge from the English legal system and was later adopted by South African company law. This notion provides some legal protection to businesses and shields their owners from personal liability for the company's debts and commitments. Companies can use this to enter new markets, reduce their taxes, and take advantage of advantageous business environments. Furthermore, this doctrine promotes joint ventures and partnerships among enterprises from many countries, allowing them to share resources and risks. As a result, this allows international enterprises to benefit by conducting international transactions, expanding abroad, and entering contracts in foreign countries. However, like any other concept, it is susceptible to abuse. Individuals take advantage of it to benefit themselves. This is detrimental to the significance of this doctrine. This dissertation aims to look deeply into this concept, by examining its origins and influence throughout the years and during its current application in the South African legal framework and highlight instances where this doctrine will be set aside. This will be conducted by fully analysing Salomon’s case and the influence it has over current company law. More importantly, the author will further examine the significance of this doctrine in modern company law. This will be done by testing the application of this doctrine to modern corporations and challenges they face.

Intellectual Property Law in Africa: Harmonising Administration and Policy - Ncube, Caroline B. (Taylor & Francis, 2023)
Examining the harmonisation of Intellectual Property policy, law and administration in Africa, this book evaluates the effectiveness of efforts to establish continental Intellectual Property institutions and frameworks. It also considers sub-regional initiatives led by the regional economic communities and the regional Intellectual Property organisations, focusing on relevant protocols and agreements that address Intellectual Property as well as the implementing institutions. The book assesses the progress of such initiatives with particular reference to the current socio-economic status of African states. It argues that that harmonisation initiatives need to be crafted in a way that is supportive of the developmental goals of African states and advocates for due consideration of individual states’ unique conditions and aspirations. This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy makers with an interest in Intellectual Property law and its harmonisation in Africa.
Accepted: 2023-06-22T09:36:20Z
Keywords: Africa; Droit (harmonisation); Intellectual property; Public interest; TRIPs; governance; thema EDItEUR::G Reference

African Principles on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts - Neels, Jan (UJ Press, 2023)
This booklet contains the first draft of the envisaged African Principles on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts. The proposal could be used by national legislators on the continent and African economic integration organisations, particularly the African Union, in, respectively, domestic legislation and regional or supranational laws of a soft or binding nature. The existence of a reliable transnational legal infrastructure in respect of international commercial law, including commercial private international law, is a prerequisite for investor confidence, inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and the ultimate alleviation of poverty on the African continent. The instrument may contribute to sustainable growth on a long-term basis. The regulation of private international law of contract is essential to the further development of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Jan L Neels is professor of private international law and director of the Research Centre for Private International Law in Emerging Countries at the University of Johannesburg.
Accepted: 2023-11-15T11:31:08Z
Keywords: African principles; International commercial contracts

The goals of competition law for merger analysis in developing jurisdictions : a critical appraisal of merger analysis under Kenyan competition law - Njako, Priscilla Mumbua (University of Pretoria, 2023)
This thesis considers whether jurisdictional exigencies should influence competition law enforcement, with a specific focus on merger analysis. It examines various approaches and schools of thought regarding the goals of competition law and how these play out within jurisdictional parameters. The history of enforcement of American antitrust is scrutinised to establish the nature of the interplay between greater economic policy direction and the goals of competition law. The study also explores the issue of convergence and whether developing jurisdictions should align their competition law to that of developed jurisdictions with mature competition law.
URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/91683
Keywords: American antitrust; Competencia; Competition law; Concurrence (droit); Kenya; Merger analysis

Trade between China and 45 African countries: does the Gravity Model matter? - Ondja'A Abeng-Abe, Christian Johan; Ebissemitie Kisso, Eunice (Revue d’Études Sino-Africaines, 2023)
The population of Africa and that of China put together amounts to a little over one-third of the world's total. The theoretical justification of the gravity model is applied to analyze the factors influencing bilateral trade between China and African countries using the panel data regression technique, covering the period between 2002 and 2021 and with special consideration for the income level of the African countries. Empirical results and estimates reveal that the economic size as well as the population of trade partners positively affect China’s trade with 45 African countries. The positive impact that distance has on trade is inconsistent with previous research. We conclude from the analysis that the factors affecting trade between China and African countries are, namely, the size of the population, the economic size represented by the GDP, and the distance between the countries. The indication of effects on the trade sector is important, and the sensitivity of the potential product to distance and countries varies considerably, giving a revealed comparative advantage. African countries should diversify their exports and improve their trade diplomacy.
Keywords: Africa; China; Gravity Model; Panel data regression; Trade

The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law: Benefit Corporations and Other Purpose-Driven Companies - Peter, Henry; Vargas Vasserot, Carlos; Alcalde Silva, Jaime (Springer Nature, 2023)
This open-access book brings together international experts who shed new light on the status of social enterprises, benefit corporations and other purpose-driven companies. The respective chapters take a multidisciplinary approach (combining law, philosophy, history, sociology and economics) and provide valuable insights on fostering social entrepreneurship and advancing the common good. In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift of how business activities are conducted, mainly through the rise of social enterprises. In an effort to target social problems at their roots, social entrepreneurs create organizations that bring transformative social changes by considering, among others, ethical, social, and environmental factors. A variety of social enterprise models are emerging internationally and are proving their vitality and importance. But what does the term “social enterprise” mean? What are its roots? And how does it work in practice within the legal framework of any country? This handbook attempts to answer these questions from a theoretical, historical, and comparative perspective, bringing together 44 contributions written by 71 expert researchers and practitioners in this field. The first part provides an overview of the social enterprise movement, its evolution, and the different forms entities can take to meet global challenges, overcoming the limits of what governments and states can do. The second part focuses on the emergence of benefit corporations and the growing importance of sustainability and societal values, while also analyzing their different legal forms and adaptation to their regulatory environment. In turn, the last part presents the status quo of purpose-driven companies in 36 developed and emerging economies worldwide. This handbook offers food for thought and guidance for everyone interested in this field. It will benefit practitioners and decision-makers involved in social and community organizations, as well as in international development and, more generally speaking, social sciences and economics.
Accepted: 2023-01-20T16:54:44Z
Keywords: B-Corps; BCorp Certification; Benefit Corporations; Business and Management; Business ethics; CSR; Commercial Law; Competencia; Competition law; Corporate Social Responsibility; Finance; Social Business Inititive; Social Enterprises; Social Entrepreneurship

Anti-Money laundering developments : A comparative appraisal - Schlebusch, Maria Elizabeth (Marlize) (University of Pretoria, 2023)
The objective of this study is to understand and explore the rapid pace at which ML has evolved and the global and local impact thereof.

The law applicable to an international commercial contract : a comparative study of private international law of contract in South Africa and South Korea - Setlhabi, Godiraona (University of Johannesburg, 2023)
Please refer to full text to view abstract.

Harmonisation in the rules governing the recognition of foreign judicial ship sales - Shao, Yingfeng (World Maritime University, 2023)
Ships, the high-value asset used in both seagoing and inland navigation, and in which various legal and natural persons have interests, must be secured against legal risks arising from any cross-border legal divergence. Legal certainty of ownership of the ship is therefore desirable but it is under challenge with regard to the judicial sale of a ship: the effects of a judicial sale may be denied in a jurisdiction other than the place where it was sold under the principles of state jurisdiction. Multiple efforts have been made to address legal uncertainty. Particularly important is a new treaty governing the international effects of judicial sales: the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships (Beijing Convention). This dissertation is intended to contribute to that process by setting out two tasks; first, it seeks to identify the obstacles to the recognition of foreign judicial sales, providing additional knowledge which may aid national legal orders when deciding recognition approaches; second, it looks for a universal solution that better guarantees recognition which would benefit shipping. A comparative legal research exercise exploring similarities and dissimilarities in the municipal and international laws governing the recognition and sale procedures is undertaken. Research results are presented in this kappa and research papers, exhibiting the profuse difficulties a party seeking recognition may encounter in the current legal framework, and explains the new recognition approach under the Beijing Convention. Based on the research findings, a universal solution is proposed that avoids révision au fond, defines the finality of a judicial sale, and sets forth a fixed number of grounds for denial of recognition which may bring greater certainty. This purported optimal solution should guarantee equal treatment for all foreign sales seeking recognition before the registry while minimising the registrar’s burden of finding and examining foreign laws. In the interest of universality, this solution better accommodates disagreeing principles underlying certain aspects of the sale, viz., the ship’s location at the time of sale, the notification of sale, and the variance in the standard sale, namely, court-approved private sales, in a manner that more states may accept. This solution is largely in line with the recognition approach under the Beijing Convention. Considering the greater legal certainty the new instrument may bring, ratification is supported.

Arbitrability of Intellectual Property Dispute: A Pragmatic Dispute Resolution Mechanism - Singh, Vaishali (International Journal of Science and Research, 2023)
Conventionally, conflicts over intellectual property rights have been addressed primarily in national courts. Nonetheless, there has been a considerable inclination towards arbitration in recent years. For example, the number of cases decided under the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Rules is constantly increasing, and the number of specific IP-related arbitral institutions is rising as well. This is due, in part, to the territorially limited reach of state court procedures, which no longer match the needs of modern international commercial processes. The transition to arbitration is appropriate since arbitration is particularly well suited to settling intellectual property conflicts. Arbitration is a private process, which is especially beneficial in IP issues due to the sensitive nature of the material involved. Furthermore, specific knowledge is necessary to properly settle technological disputes, a challenge that might be overcome by choosing adequately competent arbitrators.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Arbitrators; Intellectual property; WIPO (World Intellectual Property Rights Organization)

Impact of the Commercial Law on E-Commerce Practices and Business Sustainability in Nigeria - Ufua, Daniel Ebakoleaneh; Olujobi, Olusola Joshua; Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh (International Journal of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 2023)
With the advent of global market interdependence and interaction, coupled with the consistent spread of the internet facilities across geographical boundaries, businesses engage in e-commerce practices either to augment existing on-ground businesses or as independent outfits. This study focused on the law on e-commerce practice and business sustainability in Nigeria. The study applied a conceptual review focusing on the trends of development of ecommerce practice and the supportive effects of the legal system in facilitating business sustainability in Nigeria. The study relied on extant literature sourced from various outlets, relevant to the topic of this study. The key findings highlighted and discussed factors for improved e-commerce practices in Nigeria. These included access to legal services, effective government policy and institutional support, time and fair interpretation of the law governing e-commerce, continuous evaluation of the ecommerce processes in Nigeria, increased awareness and familiarity with e-commerce facilities, and the adoption of suitable technology. The study provides valuable insight into the support of the Nigerian commercial sector on e-commerce practices. The adoption of systems theory enhances the promotion of fairness across the entire ambience of e-commerce practice and the support of the law. This implied focusing on the continuous evaluation of legal support and a flexible process of developing the needed approaches to address emerging changes in e-commerce that can enhance business sustainability in Nigeria.
eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Keywords: Business sustainability; E-commerce; Flexible process; Government Policy; Legal system support; Nigerian economy

Effective strategies for resolving labour disputes in the corporate sector: Lessons from Nigeria and the United States - Uzougbo, Ngozi Samuel; Akagha, Onyinyechi Vivian; Coker, Julie Olajumoke; Bakare, Seun Solomon; Ijiga, Amina Catherine (World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023)
The relationship between an employer and employee though governed by various laws and regulations can still at some point witness some disagreements and dispute. Labour disputes are not uncommon neither are they peculiar to a particular industry in a country. Usually, trade disputes are hinged on agitation of employees for compensation, good working conditions, job stability and agitation against unlawful termination or dismissal of from service. Over the years, employees have adopted different ways to exhibit their discomfort and grievances in order to convey their message such as strike actions, peaceful protest and so on. There’s no doubt that these disputes will drastically reduce the level of productivity and overall beneficial impact of the industries in the economic growth of the country. Hence, there’s a need to adopt strategies for resolving these labour disputes. Some industries have applied round table discussions, arbitration, mediation, collective bargaining as well as grievances remedial processes. This work will provide an overview of the causes of disputes in the corporate sector, examine the features of the Nigerian and United States disputes resolution system and also juxtapose the strategies for resolving labour disputes in the two countries. Furthermore, it will provide recommendations to effectively addressing labour issues within the business sector.
Keywords: ADR; Alternative dispute resolution; Industrial relations; Legislative Framework; Multi-door courthouse; Trade unions

The public domain and the legal protection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems - Verhoef, Gerardus (North-West University, 2023)
IKS stakeholders often debate the divide between indigenous and other knowledge systems. IP rightsholders seek advice on how they can strengthen and secure their proprietary rights or broaden the public domain, while other interest groups such as indigenous peoples and local communities want to know how the public domain can be enclosed. One reason for this divide seems to be that the IP regime operates in a sphere where the public domain is demarcated by individual rights, as opposed to the indigenous knowledge systems regime where the public domain is demarcated by social embeddedness and connected to the land on which indigenous peoples and local communities live. This problem manifested itself over centuries of colonialism and technological development worldwide, but also because indigenous worldviews do not share the pre-appropriation narrative of the public domain than technological advanced societies. Within the context of this narrative the research question was posed, namely "what are the appropriate legal instruments for protecting Indigenous Knowledge Systems without compromising the public domain?" To answer this question, the public domain was analysed from three perspectives, namely international law instruments, human rights and IP rights. It was found that none of these perspectives lead to a narrow interpretation of the public domain – in fact, they all aim to broaden the public domain. These early findings on the public domain assisted to apply the fundamentals of the public domain to international law instruments and their application to IKS. In this regard it has been shown that the existing international law instruments, as well as the natural evolvement of these instruments over time, adequately provides for the protection and commercial exploitation of IKS worldwide. There is a proviso, though: IKS need to be viewed through the WIPO lens, which provides for the distinct delineation of categories of IKS, namely traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. For example, the Bern Convention is founded on the three principles of droits des auteurs, droit moral, and domaine public. The boundaries of the public domain within the context of IKS can be reconciled with all three of these principles, and national legislators merely need to apply these principles to national legislation. With these insights gained on international law instruments, a few countries were analysed to ascertain how they address their local challenges pertaining to IKS. The countries that were analysed all aimed to appreciate international law instruments to which they are signatories, while they develop country specific IKS-related jurisprudence, although it cannot be said to be the same in each country. None of the findings pertaining to these countries could provide convincing arguments as to why a sui generis system for IKS can work. The research then moved to a legal analysis of South African legislation in relation to IKS. It has been shown that in general, South African legislation on IP is well aligned with international law instruments. These findings assisted with the research question at hand and was instrumental with coming to the early conclusion that IKS neatly fits into South Africa's current IP regimes and their associated public domains. Throughout the thesis, the rights and obligations of IKS rightsholders were demarcated since no right is absolute, as has been shown when the South African Constitution was discussed. In this regard, the droit moral of individuals from indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as the indigenous peoples and local communities, are to be respected. This approach led to more practical measures to ensure that matters such as prior informed consent, secrecy and sacredness, equity and access to TK, TCE and GR and benefit sharing were all understood within the boundaries of the public domain.
Keywords: Indigenous knowledge (protection); Intellectual property; Propriedade intelectual; Propriété intellectuelle; Savoirs traditionnels

The Law Applicable to Security Interests in Intermediated Securities under OHADA Law - Monsenepwo Mwakwaye, Justin (Universität Würzburg, 2022)
In recent decades, the technical handling of custody business in the OHADA region has undergone a lasting change. There has been a shift from a direct to an indirect holding system, in which the interests of an investor in respect of the underlying securities are recorded in the books of an intermediary (such as a bank or a securities firm). Under the law of all states within the OHADA region, the traditional conflict of laws rule for determining the enforceability of a securities pledge that occurs in the indirect holding system is the lex rei sitae (or the lex cartae sitae or the lex situs ) rule. However, the traditional lex rei sitae rule cannot be appropriately applied to a system where the dematerialised securities are held through multiple layers of intermediaries located in different jurisdictions. Yet, until the intermediated system and the collateralisation of intermediated securities in the OHADA region will continue to operate in somewhat legally murky waters, leading to more instability in the financial markets. Therefore, Justin Monsenepwoaims to find an appropriate and consistent approach that reflects the reality of the indirect holding system in the OHADA region. “This publication is essential reading for policy makers, academics, market participants, and legal practitioners in the OHADA region and beyond. I am convinced that its in-depth analysis of OHADA’s substantive and conflict of laws rules will go a long way in filling the gap in this area and encouraging further development in the future.” Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the „Hague Conference on Private International Law“ – HCCH in the foreword
Keywords: Competencia; Competition law

Overcoming Divergence in English and French Contract Law: A Common Taxonomy of Commercial Contracts - Pedamon, Catherine (University of Westminster, 2022)
The works presented for the PhD by publication are all connected in the way they engage in a functionally comparative study of the English and French law responses to common problems pertaining to contractual performance and contractual interpretation. My comparative inquiry demonstrates that both France and England have stayed true to their historic responses in times of peace and crisis confirming different mentalités juridiques. As neither England nor France offers ideal solution, parties may be better off finding a resolution to their disputes beyond the legal realm and respond to calls for collaboration. This nevertheless shows persisting differences in Anglo-French approaches. This thesis however argues that these divergences may nevertheless lead to common results through the lens of a taxonomy of commercial contracts – professionally drafted contracts may lead to converging results given the common application and interpretation of frequently used clauses beyond a domestic legal culture; by contrast, rudimentary contracts produce diverging results as the interpretation of these agreements is marked by a distinctive domestic socio-legal culture. This taxonomy has the potential to improve the predictability of outcomes in commercial disputes in England and France.
Keywords: Commercial contracts; Contract law; England; France

Reforming investor-state dispute resolution: Focusing on the roles of domestic courts - Ma, Wanli (Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2022)
While a universally applicable multilateral agreement on investment is not yet available, a broad network of BITs and investment chapters in FTAs has been put in place to protect foreign investors and their investments. Meanwhile, investment arbitration has become a defining feature of modern international investment law over the recent decades, enabling foreign investors to launch an investment arbitration against host states, often without the need to go through local remedies before that. With the caseload of investment arbitration increasing at a rather rapid speed, such a dispute resolution method has also attracted fierce criticism. Many commentators have alleged, among other, that the decision-making of investment arbitrators has been inconsistent and unpredictable, that investment arbitration has become a threat to public interest, that investment arbitration proceedings are not transparent enough, that the arbitrators involved are not independent nor diverse enough, that the lack of an applellate mechanism compromises the quality of decision-making, and that investment arbitration has become far too costly and time-consuming. Against such a backdrop, the global community has made joint efforts to reform the investment arbitration system, not least through various initiatives developed at ICSID and UNCITRAL. Almost at the same time, national states also seem to have started to reconsider the costs and benefits of including investment arbitration in their investment agreements as a method for the resolution of disputes with foreign investors. Although the caseload of investment arbitration continues to grow and national states keep concluding IIAs containing investment arbitration clauses, at least some countries in their more recent investment treaty making practice have demonstrated a policy trend to rein in investment arbitration and ramp up the role of domestic courts in resolving investment disputes. They often do so by exiting the ICSID system, terminating their investment agreements with economic partners, excluding investment arbitration from their investment agreements, and conditioning investment arbitration upon the prior use of litigation via domestic courts. While the state practice mentioned above surely does not suggest the global society has any intention to abandon investment arbitration any time soon, it prompts us to take a step back and reconsider the role that domestic courts may play in resolving investment disputes, instead of solely focusing on the piecemeal reform of investment arbitration. When it comes to investor-state dispute resolution, domestic courts can indeed play different roles along the process. Like investment tribunals, domestic courts can also adjudicate investment disputes between foreign investors and local authorities. Such a judicial role sometimes is also confirmed in investment agreements through, for example, the exhaustion of local remedies rule, the clause demanding pursuit of local remedies prior to investment arbitration and the fork-in-the-road provision. In the context of non-ICSID arbitration, disputing parties are often entitled to applying for the review by domestic courts loci arbitri of the rulings and awards rendered by investment tribunals. Domestic courts loci arbitri would thus assume a supervisory role with regard to arbitration proceedings and arbitral outcomes, as they may set aside arbitration awards in question according to the review grounds enumerated in local arbitration laws. Moreover, domestic courts in a broader sense may be called upon to support the conduct and / or authority of investment arbitration, by recognizing and enforcing the investment awards rendered by arbitral tribunals and issuing interim measures of a judicial nature to facilitate the arbitration process. Since litigation through domestic courts and investment arbitration are two primary remedies that foreign investors often rely on for the resolution of investment disputes, this study constructs three models of institutional design with regard to the allocation of jurisdiction over investment disputes between domestic courts and investment tribunals. While the reality may turn out to be more complicated, such three models roughly represent the institutional choices facing national states. These three models are: (i) utter reliance on domestic courts as the exclusive forum for investor-state dispute resolution, (ii) investment arbitration operating as a substitute for litigation via domestic courts, and (iii) investment arbitration working as a complement to litigation via domestic courts. In order to conduct a comparative institutional analysis of the three models to reveal their respective tradeoffs, this study employs a goal based approach which is increasingly used to analyze the effectiveness of international adjudicatory mechanisms. As a result of the employment of the goal-based approach, the goals of investor-state dispute resolution are recognized as achieving fair and efficient dispute resolution, promoting state compliance with investment treaty norms, facilitating the objectives of the investment law regime, and legitimizing the underlying investment treaty regime. While the quality of the national judiciaries of many developing countries is not the same as it was decades ago largely due to the judicial reforms launched around the world, fairness and efficiency in dispute resolution still cannot be fully guaranteed in the domestic courts of those countries without a robust legal system and a good record of the rule of law. However, there are certain institutional characteristics of court litigation that may facilitate the efficiency in the resolution of investment disputes, such as the unique advantage of domestic courts that they can work as a single forum for dispute resolution and the better knowledge of court judges of the domestic legal framework at issue. Domestic courts also hold great potential in promoting the compliance by national states with investment treaty norms not least because they have more flexibility in awarding both primary and secondary remedies, but that of course depends on whether domestic courts can adjudicate investment disputes in a fair and impartial manner. Moreover, while utter reliance on litigation via domestic courts may strengthen the domestic rule of law and improve the investment climate in the long term by pressing host states to improve their legal systems and judicial institutions, it may also invite the politicization of investment disputes and the diplomatic intervention from home states in investor-state dispute resolution. Furthermore, despite the risks created for foreign investors, reliance on domestic courts as the exclusive forum may enhance the legitimacy of the investment treaty regime by reducing the sovereignty costs incurred by national states and putting domestic investors and foreign investors on the same footing. Investment arbitration operating as a substitute for domestic courts, on the other hand, demonstrates certain advantages, which are typically affiliated with international arbitration, in achieving the fair and efficient resolution of investment disputes. Unlike domestic courts, which are an integral part of the state apparatus, investment arbitrators are often immune from the influence of domestic politics and are thus believed to be independent and impartial. Meanwhile, the specialization of arbitrators in a particular area of knowledge and the procedural flexibility of arbitration proceedings, among others, are expected to improve efficiency in the resolution of investment disputes. However, empirical evidence presented in the literature sometimes suggests that, in reality, investment arbitrators may not be that unbiased and investment arbitration proceedings often drag on with a bill of a massive amount. Besides, although investment tribunals have a broad scope of jurisdiction over the behavior of different government branches, the practical difficulties they face in awarding primary remedies may damage their ability in promoting state compliance with investment treaty norms. In addition, the introduction of investment arbitration grants to foreign investors a standing in international arbitration proceedings, to a large extent reducing the need for diplomatic protection and home state intervention. However, the positive impact of investment arbitration in facilitating the development of the domestic rule of law and the maintenance and increase of foreign capital is less certain. As for the preservation of the legitimacy of the underlying investment treaty regime, investment arbitration as an alternative to domestic courts cannot be relied on to produce much positive impact. For instance, the increasing sovereignty costs and financial burden imposed on national states would probably prompt more of them to turn against the investment treaty regime. The complement model, in which domestic courts assumes primary jurisdiction and investment tribunals secondary jurisdiction over investment disputes, stands a good chance in keeping the advantages of both court litigation and investment arbitration while avoiding their disadvantages. In the complement model, domestic courts will act as the first line of defense in adjudicating investment disputes, and the institutional advantages of court litigation will be enabled to release their potential. At the same time, even if foreign investors are not satisfied with the judicial outcome or regard the court proceedings as corrupt or unfair, they may escalate the specific disputes to investment tribunals for further consideration. Since court judges are more knowledgeable and experienced in the interpretation and application of domestic law, the legal analysis of court judges will also benefit the decision-making of investment arbitrators in the subsequent arbitration proceeding. Allowing domestic courts to have a first try at investment disputes will also increase the likelihood that primary remedies could be accorded, thus the unique advantages of primary remedies in promoting state compliance with investment treaty norms are not discarded in the complement model. Moreover, the complement model is also more promising in facilitating the achievement of the objectives of the investment treaty regime, and that is because domestic courts are not marginalized in the complement model, the antagonism between foreign investors and host states may be expected to decrease, and the depolicization of investment disputes will not be lost since investment arbitration is kept as an option. Furthermore, the complement model strikes a better balance among the interests of foreign investors, host states and other stakeholders, thus it is more likely to preserve and even enhance the legitimacy of the underlying investment treaty regime than the other two institutional choices. Although the complement model serves the goals of investor-state dispute resolution the best in theory, not any casual combination of court litigation and investment arbitration will do the job; instead, only a smart mix of the two dispute resolution methods can give full play to the advantages of the complement model. Now, we switch to the supervisory role of domestic courts in investor-state dispute resolution. While a systemic appellate mechanism has not been created for investment arbitration, disputing parties may rely on setting-aside proceedings in non-ICSID arbitration to challenge arbitration awards. In other words, domestic courts loci arbitri may conduct a judicial review of the rulings and awards made by investment tribunals. However, a theoretical analysis of the judicial review mechanism supported by empirical evidence has shown that the mechanism has several flaws, which include but are not limited to the points that follow immediately. Since there is only a casual link between the seat of arbitration and the investment dispute, it is inappropriate to subject the decision-making of arbitrators to the judges from the place where the arbitration proceedings took place. The very fact that review courts have been overwhelmingly located within the developed North could raise concern that the judicial review mechanism is inherently biased against developing countries which have already shown a somewhat negative sentiment towards investment arbitration. Given that judicial review proceedings could easily go through more than one instance of court proceedings in many jurisdictions, the dispute resolution process may consume more time and generate higher costs. From this point of view, the judicial review mechanism favors the richer party in investment arbitration and could become a weapon of dilatory tactics available for such a party. Considering the higher error costs relating to investment arbitration than that relating to commercial arbitration, limited review grounds and a copious amount of deference to arbitral tribunals may not prove to be as effective in the scrutiny of investment awards. Moreover, the idiosyncrasies as to review grounds and standards across jurisdictions indicate that inconsistency would also probably permeate the judicial review practices, which would then encourage forum shopping that leads to increased costs and decreased efficiency. In addition, as both review courts and enforcement courts may exercise control over investment awards, the setting-aside decision may be merely disregarded at the enforcement stage and the overall efficiency of investor-state dispute resolution may be reduced. In order to overcome many of the flaws mentioned above, a delocalized form of review should be introduced to take place of the current judicial review mechanism.

Corporate Governance and Women on the Board of Directors : the Legal Framework towards a Minimum Harmonisation in the European Union - Lamy Martin, Joy (Université Paris-Saclay, 2022)
This thesis concerns the recent and considerable change in corporate governance legislation, specifically how boards of directors address the issue of parity and the appointment of its members in public limited companies. This research will challenge European Union law which, to date, does not propose EU harmonization.The UK, France, Germany and Norway (a non-member country but one that will be included in this research) have introduced changes to their national legislation in relation to company boards in public listed companies. This research will focus on a comparative study of parity on company boards under European Union law and its application in the UK (pre-Brexit), Germany, France and Norway. The application of corporate governance codes or soft law and the proposal for a hard law directive demonstrate a fragmentation in the EU, as the application of law by hard quotas divides member states and parliamentarians in European Union law. Corporate governance law in the member states varies considerably, but it must respect the EU's primacy law. Comparisons of legislation between member states reveal the marked differences in law.Women are significantly under-represented on the corporate boards of public limited companies in Europe. Legitimate questions need to be asked. Does the European Commission have the right to make a proposal for a directive allowing for parity on the boards of public limited companies in the EU? The reality is that the Commission does not have a solid approach in dealing with the issue of parity. As long as there is too much inconsistency between Member States, this leaves considerable room for further research. Legislation and governance law between member EU member states diverge considerably and demonstrate inconsistency with the legislation between them, resulting in little or no consensus in the interpretation of EU law. Or member states diverge with opposing interpretations of EU law, especially concerning sovereignty.National legal systems differ considerably in the way legislation allows for the appointment of board members and the notion of parity. A review of corporate governance matters concerning shareholders, the composition and appointment of board members corporate governance codes reveal the gap between member states. The research focus on parity by way of a comparison of the soft and hard laws of the member states.. The research upholds European law Article 157(3) Treaty of the Functioning on the European Union (TFEU), which is the fundamental principle of EU law and basis of gender equality and parity.The research will contribute to raising awareness of this issue through quota legislation and the question of parity on boards in public limited companies in the EU.
Issue: 2022UPASH012
Keywords: Board of directors; Comparative Law; Conseil d'administration; Corporate Governance; Droit comparé; Gender and parity; Genre et parité; Gouvernance des entreprises; Quotas; The European Union; Union européenne

The protection of the national labour force against foreign competition under labour migration laws and policies : a comparative analysis between the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa - Kamwimbi, Kasongo Theodore (University of South Africa, 2022)
Labour migration, which involves both labour immigration and labour emigration, refers to ‘the cross-border movement of people from a homeland to a location outside that homeland, with the purpose of taking up employment’.1 Labour migration has become an ever more important feature of the globalising world as it plays an important role and has a direct impact on African countries’ economies and societies. Recognising the significant benefits of labour migration to countries of origin and destination, the African Union urges African States to enact labour migration laws, regulations, and policies in a regular, transparent, and comprehensive manner at both continental and country levels. In this regard, many African countries have exercised their prerogative to regulate labour migration, which falls within each state’s sovereign discretion. By way of illustration, this thesis focuses on two specific countries, namely the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa, which have regulated the employment of foreign-born workers. The two countries have established a legal and regulatory framework aimed at protecting the national labour force against foreign competition. The two countries have been selected for this study because they are comparable in many ways while differing as much as possible in terms of the institutional set-up of their migration systems and labour markets. In fact, this study seeks to compare the DRC’s and South Africa’s labour migration laws, regulations and policies, particularly how these legal and regulatory instruments effectively protect the national labour force against foreign competition. In this sense, the study explores the overall successes and challenges of these legislative and regulatory endeavours, while identifying the shortcomings and merits of the implementation of the laws and policies in the two countries.
Keywords: Congo (Democratic Republic); Contract of employment; Emigration and immigration law; Foreign workers; Labor laws and legislation; Labour market; Manpower policy; Migrant workers; South Africa

A comprehensive analysis of the law regulating equal pay in South Africa - Ebrahim, Shamier (University of South Africa, 2022)
The purpose of this thesis is as follows. Firstly, to identify the problems associated with the causes of action in section 6(4) of the EEA; the onus in section 11 of the EEA; the right to access pay related information; the grounds of justification in section 6(2) of the EEA and the Employment Equity Regulations; the equal pay provisions in sections 198A-198C of the LRA; and section 27 of the EEA. Secondly, to discuss and analyse the South African equal pay legal framework in order to provide answers and solutions to the research problems. Thirdly, to discuss and analyse the international legal framework regulating equal pay and the United Kingdom equal pay law in order to provide answers to the research questions to the extent and breadth called for. Fourthly, to summarise the answers to the research questions as sourced from South African law, international labour law and the United Kingdom equal pay law.
Keywords: Comparator; Equal pay claims; Equal pay for substantially the same work; Equal pay for the same work; Equal pay relating to non-standard (atypical) employees; Grounds of justification; Hypothetical comparator; Onus in section 11 of the EEA; Right to access pay-related information; Same employer; Section 27 of the EEA; Section 6(4) of the EEA; Sections 198A-198C of the LRA; Subordinate comparator; Terms and conditions of employment

Situation of Earning Management After Revision of the Ohada Accounting Standards Adopted on January 26, 2017 - Georges, Wandji; Nebasi, Akoso Wilfred (Law and Economy, 2022)
Following the mandatory adoption of the revised OHADA Accounting Standards that have moved closer to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this study examines whether the level of Earnings Management of Companies making public offers or listed firms, in the West African Stock Exchange Market Abidjan-Ivory Coast (BRVM) has reduced. The study avails of Financial Statement figures during pre-adoption (2014–2017) and post-adoption (2018–2021) periods, for 26 selected listed firms in the BRVM. Findings suggest that firms in the post-adoption period of the revised OHADA Accounting Standards (2018–2021) are less likely to smooth earnings compared to the pre-adoption period (2014–2017). This indicates that adopting accounting standards of higher quality can bring an improvement in Financial Reporting Quality, everything being equal.
Number: 4
Keywords: Earnings management; IFRS; International Financial Reporting Accounting Standards (IFRS); Revised OHADA Accounting Standards; SYSCOHADA

Legal texts on trade facilitation: comparative analysis of the World Trade Organisation and the African Continental Free Trade Area - Shumba, Willie (University of South Africa, 2022)
Trade agreements are a common feature in international economic law as they govern trade relations between states. These agreements are anchored by a firm foundation of the requisite legal provisions to support trade. In this regard, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) have each developed their own legal texts that acknowledge the significance of trade facilitation and would, when implemented, facilitate the movement of goods and services across international borders. The thesis was a comparative analysis of the legal texts on trade facilitation of the WTO and the AfCFTA whose aim was to identify the resemblances and divergences between the two. The WTO has a broader mandate of global trade and ensures that trade amongst its members is conducted in conformity with global rules. On the other hand, the AfCFTA is a trade agreement that has been negotiated by African member states pursuant to the political vision of the African Union (AU), and within the confines of WTO, specifically Article XXIV of GATT 1994. This research was therefore undertaken against the backdrop of these seemingly contradicting circumstances. The central research question for the study concerns the differences and similarities between the legal texts on trade facilitation of the WTO and the AfCFTA. The study was qualitative involving a desktop review of primary and secondary sources of data. Among others, the thesis finds that the AfCFTA complies with the strategic goals of the AU, and at the same time, complements the multilateral trading system of the WTO. The thesis concludes that while there are certain similarities, the legal texts on trade facilitation of the WTO and the AfCFTA are different. The inherent dissimilarities in the texts are not contrary to the principles of the WTO. The thesis contributes to scholarly literature in trade facilitation with respect to both the AfCFTA and the WTO. It also identifies new areas for further studies and provides the necessary groundwork. The study recommends some improvements that can be made to the respective legal texts on trade facilitation.
Keywords: AfCFTA; AfCFTA Agreement; African Continental Free Trade Area; Comparative analysis; Customs union; Free trade area; GATT; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; Global trade; International Trade; Legal texts; Multilateralism; Regional Economic Community; Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs); Regionalism; Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA); Trade agreement; Trade facilitation; World Trade Organization

International Commercial Law Emerging in Africa - Neels, Jan L. (Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 2022)
This article provides an overview of the history of international commercial law in Africa with reference to instruments of the three sister organisations of private international law (in a wide sense): UNCITRAL (the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law), UNIDROIT (the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law) and the HCCH (the Hague Conference on Private International Law). The adoption of UNIDROIT's Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment of 2001 is identified as a possible watershed moment in respect of the future development of international commercial law in Africa. Following the creation of an African Continental Free Trade Area by member countries of the African Union, it is suggested that participating states reconsider joining the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods (1980) (CISG) and incorporating the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (1985/2006), which are in a certain sense the two founding documents of the modern lex mercatoria. Another priority, the author suggests, is that Africa needs a supporting instrument on the private international law of contract. The first draft of the African Principles on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts is then discussed with an emphasis on the role of substantive law instruments, in particular the CISG
Keywords: African Principles of Commercial Private International Law; African Principles on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts; International Commercial Law; International commercial contracts; Private international law

An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of South Africa’s corporate rescue regime as a potential benchmark for Uganda - Waiswa, Abudu Sallam (University of South Africa, 2022)
This thesis evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the legal framework on corporate rescue in South Africa and Uganda. Although corporate rescue was initially not one of the objectives of insolvency law, it has now become the focus of modern insolvency law. South Africa became the first country to recognise the need to create a legal framework for rehabilitating financially distressed companies when it incorporated judicial management in the Companies Act of 1926. Judicial management was, however, not successful as a corporate rescue procedure. The South African policy makers however continued to explore ways through which financially distressed but viable companies could be saved from collapsing. This culminated into the introduction of business rescue in Chapter 6 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008. The study presents a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the South African business rescue framework. It posits that unlike the Ugandan system, the South Africa legal regime reflects the principles of a modern and effective corporate rescue system. Whereas the government of Uganda attempted to embrace corporate rescue through the introduction of administration in the Insolvency Act 2011, the law is devoid of the internationally recognised features of a modern and effective business rescue framework. Administration has remained a white elephant in Uganda’s insolvency system, with liquidation continuing to be the predominant procedure used by both creditors and financially distressed companies. It is recommended that Uganda’s policy makers should benchmark the South African system to reform Uganda’s corporate rescue framework. This thesis is based on the law as at 31st of May 2022, found in the sources available in South Africa and Uganda.
Keywords: Bankruptcy; Business rescue; Corporate insolvency; Corporate insolvency law; Corporate reorganizations; Corporate rescue; Insolvency; Judicial management; Provisional administration; Rescue finance; South Africa; Uganda

Impact of Lack of Self-efficiency and Assets Evaluation on Resistance of IPSAS Implementation - Alhuda Tawffek Al-otoom, Nour; Alrabba, Hussein Mohammed (Information Sciences Letters, 2022)
This study examines factors influencing the international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) implementation and presenting of accounting information related to the Jordanian public sector, also the information of reports is based on “Accounting principles and practices (No.39/1962) among government accountants. This study identified several important factors influencing the IPSAS implementation which are; lack of self-efficiency and assets evaluation. In addition, a quantitative approach was employed by distributed the questionnaires to 100 respondents enrolled at Jordanian General Budget Department using simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS to verify the relationships between the variables. The results found significant positive relationships between lack of self-efficiency and assets evaluation and IPSAS implementation resistance among government accountant in the public sector of Jordan. To sum up, this study contributes in expanding the literature concerning IPSAS implementation in Jordanian context, it’s also provides meaningful guideline to the government of Jordan for IPSAS implementation resistance. Finally, providing insights on the critical success factors to ensure successful implementation process.
Keywords: Accrual Accounting; Assets Evaluation; IPSASs; Public Sector Accounting; Self-efficiency

Article 255 of the OHADA Uniform Act on General Commercial Law and Consumer Protection: The Need to Experiment - Djieufack, Roland (International Journal on Consumer Law and Practice, 2022)

Business Dispute Settlement Through Mediation in State Courts and Arbitration Institutions - Yuspin, Wardah; Aziz, Abdul (International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 2022)
In social life, there are often differences in perceptions between humans, causing problems or disputes, whether minor or serious. Likewise in the relationship of economic activities or more commonly known as business relations. Not infrequently humans experience a clash and differences of opinion that lead to disputes. Various problems will always arise in business as long as humans run their business solely for profit, so there are often differences of opinion because the parties will not be harmed which will eventually lead to disputes. In the end, dispute resolution, especially business disputes, is often resolved through a trial in court through a lawsuit by one of the parties who feel aggrieved. However, what was expected from the settlement turned out to be unsatisfactory for the parties because the settlement through litigation sometimes took a long time to obtain legal certainty so that it actually harmed business people because of the loss of time, energy and materials. As an alternative to resolving business disputes, business actors have a tendency to avoid disputes in court and choose to use mediation or through arbitration institutions. This study will briefly describe the comparison of business dispute resolution through court mediation with settlement through arbitration institutions. The research was conducted through descriptive empirical legal research.
Keywords: Arbitration; Business; Dispute

The application of knowledge stylised facts in West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) - Amanzou, Nogbou Andetchi Aubin; Ballo, Zie; Troupa, Sery Guy Flavien (Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2022)
Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the dynamic economies in the world. Unfortunately, the performance achieve has not led to a reduction of social issues. So, the government are making massive investment to overcome social issues. This massive public investment highlights the exogenous nature of the current economic growth. So, a change of the strategy in the economic management of sub-Saharan Africa is required. One solution remains the change of economic paradigm: the transition from exogenous economic with decreased return to endogenous economic with increased return. The theoretical explanation of such arguments are supported by New Growth Theory. However, the implementation of the new theory required compliance to a set of indicators known as stylized facts. In 2009, Romer and Jones have developed a list of stylized corresponding to the need of New Growth Theory. The stylized facts of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have been compared to the standard facts of Romer and Jones in order to apply the recommendations of New Growth Theory in this area. To reach that aim, the stylized facts have been described and analysed with econometric panel model. As result, we find that the description of the stylized facts in WAEMU fitted perfectly with that of Romer and Jones for the same period. Unfortunately, when using data, institution don’t work as expected by Romer and Jones. This study strengthens the argument for the implementation of economic policy based on the valorisation of knowledge economic in WAEMU.
Keywords: Africa; D83; Economic development; Economic growth; Knowledge economic; Macroeconomic Analyses; N17; O11; O17; O40

Analysis of the Determinants of the Effectiveness of the Board of Directors in Family Businesses in Cameroon - Roukatou, Aboubakar; Dretti, Denise (Open Journal of Business and Management, 2022)
The composition of the Board of Directors is commonly presented as an understandable variable for its effectiveness. However, the work that examined the relationship between the composition and effectiveness of the Board is not characterized, as they require about whether or not certain categories of directors (internal, external, independent) are relevant and the related empirical results are mixed. This work examines the relationship between the characteristics of the board of directors and its effectiveness in a type of business that is very common in the world, respecting the family business. Thus, the problem that this study tries to solve is to identify the characteristics of the board of directors that can contribute to its effectiveness in Cameroonian family businesses. We found that the size of the Board, the presence of external directors, and the cumulative management and control functions appear to have an impact on the effectiveness of the Board.
Number: 5
Keywords: Board of directors; Family Business; Governance; Public Limited Company

Comparison of IAS/IFRS and OHADA standards in terms of taking inflation into account in financial accounting - Matofali, Victoire (Revue du Contrôle de la Comptabilité et de l’Audit, 2022)
Financial accounting is one of the indispensable management tools in an organization, its objective is to present financial statements that reflect a true and fair view of the assets, financial position and results of the entity. In times of high inflation, however, money loses its purchasing power at such a rate that comparing amounts resulting from transactions and other events that occurred at different times, even during the same accounting period, can be misleading. This can cause the figures in the financial statements to be misleading. It is therefore essential to adjust these figures to the actual economic conditions in order to preserve a true and fair view of the company's assets, financial position and results. International financial standards such as those of OHADA analyze this problem of inflation in accounting through different methods of restatement of the figures of the financial statements to make them faithful and consistent with the economic reality. In this work, we will identify the points of divergence as well as the points of convergence between OHADA and IAS/IFRS accounting standards in terms of inflation accounting.
CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research
Keywords: Accounting; IAS/IFRS; Inflation; Standardization

The Effects of Covid-19 Crisis on Good Governance at the Local Level, The Case of Tunisia - Braham, Fatma; Seguir, Sonia (Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education, 2022)
The COVID-19 crisis, in addition to its serious health impact, has negatively affected key socio-economic aggregates and has shocked the strategic planning of all economic and social actors, including local communities. In search of resilient, skillful and intelligent good territorial governance, the municipalities are working to adapt their governance systems to the new social and environmental priorities. This work proposes a new reading of the acquired approaches to good governance, a new paradigm related to the new conjuncture and an assessment of the performance system at the central and local levels

Three Essays on Digital Platforms and Competition Policy - Yan, Jun (Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, 2022)
Cette thèse se compose de trois chapitres indépendants et examine différentes questions antitrust liées aux plateformes de gatekeeper. Le chapitre I explore le problème du verrouillage vertical dans les marchés bifaces. Dans le cadre des Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) de Google, le chapitre 2 examine la question de l'accès des plates-formes de contrôle d'accès aux données des utilisateurs professionnels. Le chapitre 3 se concentre sur le droit d'auteur numérique et étudie le comportement de Google consistant à utiliser le contenu des éditeurs pour afficher des réponses courtes sur les pages de résultats de recherche.Le premier chapitre examine comment l'intégration verticale d'une plate-forme monopolistique, qui se caractérise par des externalités de réseau bilatérales entre groupes, influe sur son incitation à s'engager dans le verrouillage en aval. Je me concentre sur un environnement où la plate-forme et les vendeurs en aval sont confrontés à l'incertitude quant aux gains du commerce au stade de la passation des marchés. Le choc aléatoire étant non contractile, la contractualisation crée des frictions qui faussent la structure tarifaire de la plateforme. En revanche, l'intégration verticale atténue ce problème en permettant à la plate-forme d'intégrer le choc aléatoire des prix à la consommation. En raison de l'interaction entre la friction des transactions et les externalités de réseau intergroupes, je trouve que l'intégration verticale pourrait réduire l'incitation de la plate-forme à la forclusion.Le deuxième chapitre est un travail conjoint avec Doh-Shin Jeon. Nous étudions comment l'adoption par les journaux d'AMP, un format de publication qui permet le chargement instantané de pages Web dans les navigateurs mobiles, modifie l'allocation des données et, par conséquent, les incitations des journaux à investir dans un journalisme de qualité. L'adoption d'AMP permet à Google d'obtenir des données sur les consommateurs à partir d'articles AMP et de les combiner avec d'autres sources de données sur les consommateurs pour améliorer le ciblage des publicités diffusées par Google sur d'autres sites Web. Même si une telle combinaison de données augmente l'efficacité statique, elle peut réduire l'efficacité dynamique lorsqu'elle diminue les revenus publicitaires par trafic de journal, réduisant ainsi la qualité du journalisme. Les journaux sont confrontés à un problème d'action collective car l'adoption de l'AMP par un journal génère des externalités négatives pour les autres journaux via le classement des recherches et la fuite de données. Google peut tirer parti de son pouvoir de marché dans la recherche et l'intermédiation publicitaire pour inciter les journaux à adopter AMP. Nous fournissons des recours politiques.Le troisième chapitre construit un modèle théorique de biens d'information divisibles pour examiner comment l'utilisation d'extraits par un moteur de recherche monopolistique impacte la consommation et la création de contenu. En affichant des extraits dans la zone de réponse sur les pages de résultats de recherche, le moteur de recherche dissocie les informations essentielles et les informations supplémentaires des articles. Elle crée donc deux effets opposés sur l'incitation des éditeurs à investir dans la qualité : l'effet de taille du marché et l'effet d'élasticité. Son impact sur le bien-être social est ambigu. D'une part, la boîte de réponse améliore l'efficacité de la recherche en offrant un accès plus large aux informations essentielles et en permettant aux consommateurs inframarginaux de substituer les informations essentielles à l'article complet. D'un autre côté, cela pourrait réduire le trafic sur le site Web, réduire les revenus publicitaires des éditeurs et les inciter à investir dans la qualité. J'examine les impacts des différentes politiques qui obligent le moteur de recherche à payer pour l'utilisation d'extraits.
Keywords: Antitrust law; Competencia; Competition Policy; Competition law; Concurrence; Concurrence (droit); Digital Platforms; Economie des médias; Google; Intellectual property; Marché biface; Media Economics; Online Advertising; Plateformes digitales; Propriedade intelectual; Propriété intellectuelle; Publicité en ligne; Technologies de l'information et de la communication – Aspect économique; Two-Sided Market

Free movement of goods and new agreements in the aftermath of Brexit - Police, Cecilia (LUISS Guido Carli, 2022)
The main principles of EU internal market vs the new UK internal market: a background. The internal market of the European Union. UK membership: accession to the European economic community in 1973. The nature of the EU internal market and the free movement of goods. The UK internal market after the internal market act 2020. The EU common commercial policy and the post-Brexit scenario. Brexit: new agreements and legal framework. EU-UK post-Brexit relationship: a new framework for a new partnership. Brexit history and the question of sovereignty. Brexit history: the timeline. Brexit and the withdrawal agreement. Brexit and Northern Ireland protocol. Brexit and trade: perspectives on a new partnership. Brexit and trade: trade and cooperation agreement. Trade and cooperation agreement: EU-UK trade relations, institutional and governance structures. Preliminary remarks. Analysis of the TCA: trade in goods provisions. 0,0 agreement: zero tariffs, zero quotas and rules of origin. The TCA: technical barriers to trade (TBT). The TCA: sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS). The TCA: the principle of mutual recognition. Level playing field (LPF). The Northern Ireland protocol and the trade in goods regime. TCA’s main concerns and application issues. TCA dispute settlement mechanisms. Some conclusive remarks on TCA provisions.

Influence of current and capital account liberalization on economic growth: Evidence from heavily indebted SSA economies - Leykun, Fentaw (African Journal of Economic and Business Research, 2022)
Capital and current account restrictions were widely used in the past but were largely released during the liberalization movement of the 1990s, as interventionist policies got widespread support that paves the way to the renewed conception of government as an impartial referee. Such a restriction has come back on the agenda with the surge in public debt in the rouse of the Global Financial Crisis. By distorting market signals and incentives, financial repression persuades losses from inefficiency and rent-seeking that cannot be easily quantified. This paper seeks to investigate the impact of current and capital account liberalization on growth, using recent de jure and de facto measures, covering 26 heavily indebted Sub-Saharan African countries over 2000-2020. The results suggest that capital account liberalization escalates growth, brought distributional efficiency in conformity with the neoclassical growth model.
Keywords: Capital account; Current account; Economic growth; Financial liberalization; Financial repression

EU copyright reform : an institutional approach - Mangal, Natasha (Université de Strasbourg, 2022)
Cette thèse a pour objet d’étudier comment le dispositif institutionnel actuel pour l’adaptation du droit d’auteur dans l’Union européenne peut être reconsidéré afin de promouvoir le niveau de cohérence plus élevé dans les pratiques réglementaires des États membres, ainsi que dans l’intérêt de la promotion d’un corps de règles européennes plus dynamiques en la matière.À l’aide de l’outil normatif de l’analyse institutionnelle comparative, les dispositions institutionnelles actuelles sont examinées, en se concentrant sur la qualité de la participation des parties prenantes du droit d’auteur dans le système politique, le marché et les tribunaux. Des exemples d’institutions administratives du droit d’auteur dans certaines juridictions (États-Unis et Canada) sont analysés plus en détail, en tirant des conclusions sur leurs fonctions et leurs rôles dans leurs systèmes juridiques respectifs. Enfin, cette thèse propose plusieurs solutions politiques, y compris la possibilité d’envisager une nouvelle autorité au niveau de l’Union européenne pour le droit d’auteur. En fin de compte, la remise en question du statu quo institutionnel dans l’Union européenne peut révéler de nouvelles voies prometteuses pour développer les fonctions administratives, quasi judiciaires, d’observation et de conseil nécessaires à la gestion du droit d’auteur à l’ère du numérique.
Keywords: Analyse institutionnelle comparative; Comparative Institutional Analysis; Copyright; Digital Single Market; Droit de la propriété intellectuelle; Droit d’auteur; Droits d'auteur; Institutions; Intellectual property; Intellectual property law; Marché unique numérique; Union européenne

Investment Law and its Others - Schneiderman, David (Temple International Law Journal, 2022)
Accepted: 2024-06-06T13:17:31Z

Assessment Report of Arbitration Centre in Egypt (CRCICA) - SNFI (African Development Bank, 2022)

The Idea of Economic Constitution in Europe: Genealogy and Overview - Grégoire, Guillaume; Miny, Xavier (Brill, 2022)
Derrière les controverses qui jalonnent l’histoire de l’idée de Constitution économique émerge la question éminemment politique de la marge de manœuvre laissée aux autorités publiques dans la sphère économique. La notion cristallise ainsi une tension fondamentale : entre démocratie et État de droit, quel doit être modèle d’organisation et d’ordonnancement juridique de l’économie? Des physiocrates aux néolibéraux, de la République de Weimar à l’intégration européenne, des constitutions nationales à la Global Governance, cet ouvrage collectif nous invite dès lors à explorer la généalogie du concept polémique de Constitution économique. Les auteurs ouvrent alors, à travers un dialogue interdisciplinaire constant, une réflexion globale autour des enjeux juridiques et politiques du processus actuel de constitutionnalisation de l’ordre de marché en Europe.
Keywords: Constitutional Law; Economic History; History; International Law; Legal History

Determining the Liability for Carriage of Goods by Road in West Africa - Can OHADA Uniform Rules on Transport be a Foundation? - Osinuga, Damilola (Southern African Journal of Policy and Development, 2022)

La mise en concurrence des systèmes juridiques nationaux et l’idée de Constitution économique - Salah, M. Mahmoud Mohamed (The Idea of Economic Constitution in Europe, 2022)
Conséquence de la compétition que les États se livrent pour attirer le maximum d’investisseurs, la mise en concurrence des systèmes juridiques nationaux s’est traduite par une libéralisation continue du droit qui a eu un effet direct sur l’idée de Constitution économique. Celle-ci a non seulement vu son épaisseur normative se renforcer du fait de la neutralisation des dispositifs juridiques dirigistes mais elle s’est également universalisée en raison de la conversion de la quasi-totalité des pays au dogme de « l’attractivité ». Toutefois, ce mouvement généralisé vers le tout libéral commence à être remis en cause sous l’effet de facteurs divers qui se traduisent par une demande sociale et politique pour plus de régulation étatique. Il en résulte à la fois un regain de l’unilatéralisme qui affecte la force des principes qui sous-tendent l’idée de constitution économique et une prise en compte plus affirmée des valeurs et intérêts collectifs qui altère la substance de ces principes.
Section: The Idea of Economic Constitution in Europe
Keywords: Constitutional Law; Economic History; History; International Law; Legal History

Performance and rarity of worker-owned firms : empirical evidence from France - Mirabel, Thibault (Université Paris 10, 2022)
This thesis compares the performance of worker-owned firms (WOFs) and conventional firms (CFs). These firms differ by their distribution of ownership rights and their mode of governance. In WOFs, the ultimate control is held by the suppliers of labor, whereas in CFs the ultimate control is held by the suppliers of capital. WOFs represent an implementation of democracy in firms and, as such, are likely to be immune to institutional harassment and socialwashing. WOFs have also been supported by citizens, politicians, and economists from across a wide ideological spectrum. Despite their attractiveness, WOFs represent a minute proportion of firms in our contemporary economies. This thesis seeks to bring new insights and stylized facts to better understand the rarity of WOFs. Chapter 1 studies how the interaction of the sunk costs of human capital and physical capital impacts the probability of WOF entry. I show that the likelihood of WOF entry is the highest when the sunk cost of human capital is dominant while the sunk cost of physical capital is negligible. Chapter 2 compares the survival patterns of WOFs and CFs. I show that WOFs survive longer than CFs regardless of whether they have different or similar entry resources, and that some entrepreneur and firm characteristics impact WOF and CF survival differently. Chapter 3 compares the survival patterns of WOFs distinguished by their entry mode (i.e., newly created, worker buyouts of sound CFs, worker buyouts of CFs in difficulty, and worker buyouts of nonprofit organizations). I show that any type of worker buyout survives longer than newly created WOFs. Overall, this thesis suggests that the rarity of WOFs is more likely to result from entry barriers specific to WOFs rather than from poor performance compared to CFs. Cette thèse compare la performance des coopératives de travailleurs (SCOPs) et des entreprises conventionnelles (ECs). Ces entreprises diffèrent par leur distribution des droits de propriété et leur mode de gouvernance. Au sein des SCOPs, les travailleurs ont le contrôle ultime de leur entreprise. Les SCOPs instituent la démocratie dans le monde économique et, à cet égard, furent et sont encore défendues par des économistes appartenant à une large palette idéologique. Malgré leur attractivité, les SCOPs représentent une fraction minuscule des entreprises dans le monde. Cette thèse entend apporter des éléments nouveaux pour comprendre la rareté des SCOPs. Le Chapitre 1 étudie comment l’interaction des coûts échoués en capital et en travail impacte la probabilité de créer une SCOP. Je montre que la probabilité de créer une SCOP est maximale lorsque le coût échoué en travail est dominant et que le coût échoué en capital négligeable. Le Chapitre 2 compare les profils de survie des SCOPs et des ECs. Je montre que les SCOPs survivent plus longtemps que les ECs indépendamment du fait que leurs ressources à l’entrée diffèrent ou non. Je montre aussi que certaines caractéristiques de l’entrepreneur différemment la survie des SCOPs et des ECs. Le Chapitre 3 compare les profils de survie des SCOPs en distinguant quatre modes d’entrée (les SCOPs nouvellement créées, les reprises d’entreprises saines, les reprises d’entreprises en difficulté et les reprises d’organisations à but non-lucratif). Je montre que les reprises en SCOPs survivent plus longtemps que les SCOPs nouvellement créées. Dans l’ensemble, cette thèse suggère que la rareté des SCOPs est due à des barrières à l’entrée spécifiques aux SCOPs plutôt qu’à leur prétendue moindre performance vis-à-vis des ECs.
Keywords: Coopératives; Coopératives ouvrières de production; Coûts échoués; Democracy; Efficacité de l'organisation; Entry mode; France; Mode de création; Participation à la gestion; Performance; Personnel; Scop; Sunk costs; Survie; Survival; Worker-owned firms; Études comparatives

An examination of the challenges posed by the internet economy for the South African income tax regime - Odhiambo, Oluoch Rodney (University of South Africa, 2022)
The way of doing business has changed significantly since the turn of this century due to the growth of internet technology and the global digital economy. This growth has reduced the importance traditionally attached to tangible assets and physical location in both commerce and taxation. This implies that any country that relies on physical presence to trigger tax liability in today’s digital economy may be forced to reconsider the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency of its income tax legislation. This thesis postulates that South Africa’s income tax law and the international taxation principles it relies on in taxing cross-border and digital transactions have not grown in tandem with the changing landscape of today’s digital economy. The thesis contends that South Africa will not receive its fair share of tax from giant multinational enterprises such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon which operate and trade in the country, if it does not amend its income tax laws to address the challenges posed by the internet economy. In examining the challenges posed by the internet economy to South Africa’s income tax regime, the thesis commences in Chapter 2 by discussing the growth of the digital economy and its implications for South Africa’s income tax system. Chapter 3 offers a critical analysis of South Africa’s income tax laws and the international principles on which they rely in taxing the digital economy. Chapter 4 discusses the measures that South Africa’s government has taken to tax its digital economy, while Chapter 5 compares how the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), Kenya, India, and New Zealand have dealt with the issue of taxing the digital economy and the lessons to be learned from these jurisdictions. The thesis concludes in Chapter 6 by proposing recommendations that South Africa could consider to make its income tax regime more efficient and effective in taxing transactions that take place in today’s digitised economy.
Keywords: Cryptocurrency; Digital economy; Digital tax; E-commerce; E-signature; Electronic commerce; Formulary apportionment; Income tax; Internet industry; Signature électronique; Taxation; Virtual currency

Innovative Approaches for Tackling Tax Evasion in the South African Minibus Taxi Industry: Lessons from Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe - Ndlovu, Jane; Mohale, Enhle (Journal of Law, Society and Development, 2022)
In South Africa, minibus taxis are a crucial mode of public transport for many commuters and a vital informal business sector with an estimated value of R90 billion. Concerns have been raised that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is not collecting the optimal amount of tax revenue from this industry, with estimated tax collection at only R5 million in 2021. As a result of concerns that this industry might be involved in tax evasion or massive tax avoidance, this study investigates the taxation of minibus taxis in South Africa and explores alternative tax regimes that could be implemented to improve revenue collection. The study compares the current South African turnover tax system for minibus taxi operators to other African tax systems and evaluates a viable alternative tax regime or tax collection system. To improve tax collection from the industry, South Africa could consider a tax system tailored to the industry’s informal nature, utilising metrics such as vehicle seating capacity or distance travelled. A standardised tax system for small, medium, and micro enterprises may not be suitable. Consultation with industry stakeholders is essential for the proposed tax system to be acceptable. The study’s findings could inform South Africa’s National Treasury in creating a tax structure or collection scheme targeting the minibus taxi industry. This could increase tax revenue collection from the industry and support government expenditure, including income and wealth redistribution. This study distinguishes itself from prior publications on the South African minibus taxi industry by addressing tax compliance and collection challenges. It offers recommendations for alternative tax regimes to mitigate these challenges.
Keywords: Informal sector; Micro-enterprises; Minibus taxi; Presumptive tax; Tax relief; Turnover tax

The use of MASS in the context of International Law of the Sea - Mandrioli, Daniele (Università degli studi di Milano, 2022)
L'automatisation et la numérisation redéfinissent l'ergonomie des comportements humains. En se limitant au domaine maritime, les nouvelles technologies permettent d'automatiser entièrement l'activité traditionnelle de la navigation ; aujourd'hui, les navires peuvent être contrôlés depuis le rivage et l'intervention humaine dans la boucle de décision n'est plus nécessaire.Cette innovation disruptive offre de grandes opportunités pour l'industrie maritime. Intuitivement, les profits tirés du transport de marchandises et de personnes en mer peuvent être maximisés ; la réduction ou l'absence d'équipage à bord entraîne une réduction considérable des coûts pour les opérateurs (et pour les consommateurs), surtout en cette période historique marquée par la propagation mondiale du virus SARSCOV-2. En ce qui concerne la sécurité maritime, l'innovation que constitue le contrôle autonome réduit fortement le risque d'accidents dus à des erreurs humaines, qui sont à l'origine de la plupart des accidents maritimes. En ce qui concerne la protection de l'environnement marin, la navigation autonome peut en outre rendre le transport maritime plus durable.Pour ces raisons, les États et les entités privées financent plusieurs projets de développement de navires autonomes : au cours des dernières années, les premiers navires de surface autonomes (ci-après dénommés MASS) ont été testés et produits. En l'état actuel des connaissances, l'adoption de cette nouvelle technologie n'est plus un événement futuriste : plus d'un millier de MASS naviguent actuellement sur les océans du monde.Étant donné que l'activité humaine de la navigation est sujette à des changements, on peut se demander si les règles internationales qui la régissent sont d'une certaine manière remises en question par l'essor de l'automatisation.Habituellement, une nouvelle invention technologique s'accompagne de nombreuses questions réglementaires. D'une part, la loi est tenue de contrôler et de prévenir les conséquences involontaires découlant du recours à la nouvelle technologie. D'autre part, la loi est appelée à admettre et à autoriser son utilisation.Par conséquent, l'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier les implications juridiques internationales découlant de l'utilisation croissante des moyens autonomes de transport maritime. En quelques mots, il s'agit ici d'aborder la question de savoir si et comment le recours à la technologie MASS a un impact sur le cadre juridique international préexistant qui régit l'exécution de la navigation et le contrôle de l'Etat sur celle-ci.Au cours des dernières années, ce sujet a suscité une attention croissante. En particulier, en 2019, le Comité de la sécurité maritime (CSM) de l'OMI a approuvé les "Directives provisoires pour les essais de navires autonomes de surface (MASS)". En outre, l'Organisation a très récemment achevé le "Regulatory Scoping Exercise on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships" (ci-après RSE), qui avait débuté trois ans auparavant.La recherche proposée veut s'inscrire dans ce débat ouvert (et le dépasser) afin de fournir un panorama étendu des implications juridiques internationales émergeant de l'utilisation de l'automatisation et du contrôle dans le domaine maritime. Ce faisant, l'attention se concentrera sur trois blocs normatifs : les règles internationales sur la sécurité de la navigation (chapitre I), les règles internationales régissant l'attribution de la juridiction des États sur les navires (chapitre II) et les règles internationales traitant de l'assistance aux personnes trouvées en détresse en mer (chapitre III).
Keywords: Commande automatique; Droit de la mer; Droit maritime; Law of the Sea; Mass; Navires; Pilotes automatiques (navigation); Ships; Systèmes de guidage

Effectiveness of the Recognition and Enforcement of the OHADA's Arbitral Award - Rezara, Juvelin (International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 2022)
OHADA is amongst an international organization which consists of arbitral tribunal within some regions in Africa in handling international investment and commercial disputes. Henceforth, the purpose of this study is to examine the effectivity of the enforcement of arbitral awards under the perspectives of OHADA arbitration rules. The study axed through qualitative approach by interpreting legal rules, analyzing cases and commenting the weakness of the charter in terms of enforcement and recognition of arbitral awards. The decision of OHADA arbitral tribunal shall contain intrinsically legal binding to member countries, however it leads problematics as the enforcement and recognition rules may be different in every country involved. Hence, the study interpreted the legal rules concerning enforcement and recognition of arbitral awards and the effectiveness of the rules. In addition it exerted also the challenges and significant recommendation for improving arbitration rules relating to enforcement of the awards. It is found that the weakness of the arbitral awards locates on refusal of concerned State to enforce the awards under the domestic law due to conflict of interest.
Keywords: Arbitral Awards; Enforcement; Exequatur; res judicata

Effectiveness of the Recognition and Enforcement of the OHADA`S Arbitral Award - Juvelin, Rezara (International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 2022)
OHADA is amongst an international organization consists of arbitral tribunal within regions in Africa to deal with international disputes on investment and commercial related. Henceforth, the purpose of the study examines the effectivity of arbitral awards enforcement under the perspectives of OHADA arbitration rules. The study axed through qualitative approach by interpreting legal rules, analyzing cases and commenting the weakness of the charter in terms of enforcement and recognition of arbitral awards. The decision of OHADA arbitral tribunal shall contain intrinsically legal effect to country members, however it leads problematics as the enforcement and recognition rules may be different in every country involved. Hence, the study interpreted the legal rules concerning enforcement and recognition of arbitral awards, effectiveness of the rules. In addition it exerted also the challenges and significant recommendation for improving the arbitration rules on enforcement of arbitral awards. It is found the weakness of the arbitral awards locates on refusal of concerned State to enforce the awards under the domestic law for undefinable conflict of interest
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitral Awards; Arbitration; Enforcement; OHADA; res judicata and exequatur

Trade facilitation through border enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: issues, concerns and possible remedies - Hossain, Syed Saifuddin (Macquarie University, 2022)
In the present era of rapid globalisation, countries are intrinsically integrated with each other by way of international trade to ensure optimal utilisation of their resources. Trade facilitation is now recognised as a key driving factor in determining export competitiveness of a country. Customs administrations, the frontier border agency responsible for regulating import and export of legitimate goods, are increasingly faced with the challenge of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement. In addition to national governments, various international organisations have devised guidelines and tools to facilitate and empower Customs agencies in their fight against IPR infringement. In particular, the multilateral Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) articulates a prescription for border enforcement of IPRs in Articles 51-60. In this backdrop, this thesis attempts to answer a very fundamental question: What are the implications of ‘Border Measures’, specified under the WTO TRIPS Agreement, for facilitating international trade? To this end, it critically examines the concepts of trade facilitation, TRIPS and IPR protection to highlight the links that connect them and the missing links that need to be established. Obligations to protect IPR under national and international laws are also scrutinised. Research shows that efforts by WTO, World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have been instrumental in this context. While policy planning at the national level should be the first priority, commitment by the advanced economies to support their less developed counterparts through technology transfer (TT) is of paramount importance. The thesis suggests that TRIPS-plus provisions, if implemented arbitrarily by developed countries, have the potential to undermine the interests of countries with resource constraints. In this context, the thesis analyses the effects and implications of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreements, and the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) for the border protection of IPRs. The thesis investigates the socio-economic impacts of IPR infringement and articulates strategies to be adopted and applied at individual, collective, business and government levels to stop trade and use of IPR infringed goods. Drawing on the analysis of the relevant WTO Articles, scrutiny of various border measures put in place by national governments and international bodies, and current state of play under the Doha Development Round (DDR), the thesis puts forward a set of short and long term policy recommendations for all relevant stakeholders. These inclusively include: (i) strengthening risk management procedures; (ii) cooperation and coordination at national and international levels; (iii) awareness raising initiatives; (iv) establishing advanced technologically driven border enforcement system; (v) empowering Customs with effective administrative authority; (vi) IP related technical capacity building within the Customs and business community; (vii) technology transfer to LDCs from developed countries; and (viii) LDC friendly dispute settlement process under the WTO.
Keywords: Border protection; Customs; IPR; Intellectual property; Intellectual property infringement; Intellectual property rights; Trade facilitation

Hyperlinking and copyright - Karjiker, Sadulla (The South African Law Journal, 2022)
This article critically considers the legality of hyperlinking to copyright-protected material on the Internet. It considers the position with respect to standard hyperlinks, and attempts to provide a possible approach in light of the proposed introduction of two new exclusive rights, namely (i) the right of communication to the public; and (ii) the making-available right. These new exclusive rights appear to be an attempt to amend the South African Copyright Act in order to give effect to the 1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty, which sought to ‘digitise’ copyright law in light of the digital technology that had developed. The WIPO Copyright Treaty supplements, in particular, the rights granted to copyright owners under the Berne Convention, extending the right of communication to the public to include the making-available right. Use will be made of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which has given effect to the right of communication to the public (including the making-available right), following its inclusion in the WIPO Copyright Treaty of 1996. Through a more focused analysis of these exclusive rights, it is intended that this article can provide some guidance to South African lawyers and our courts when considering the application and scope of these exclusive rights.
Keywords: Copyright; Hyperlinking; Intellectual property; Legality

Exporting the Luxembourg Rail Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment to Africa - Otabor-Olubor, Iyare (Uniform Law Review, 2022)
This article recommends the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and appeals to African countries to accede to the Luxembourg Protocol on Railway Rolling Stock (Rail Protocol). The discussion in this article focuses on the extent to which Article XXII of the Rail Protocol can be applied with respect to Africa. The article critically analyses the competence of the African Economic Community (AEC) and its sub-regional organizations to accede to the Cape Town Convention and Rail Protocol. The author provides a detailed argumentative analysis of the legal mandate of the AEC and the influence of African Union (AU) laws on the competence of the AEC’s sub-regional organizations to make declarations under the Cape Town Convention and Rail Protocol. The analysis confirms that competence to accede to the Convention and Rail Protocol resides with sovereign States in Africa and not with the AU, the AEC, the Organisation pour l’harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires, or any existing sub-regional organization in Africa.

Soil protection and legal aspects of international trade in agriculture in times of climate change: The WTO dimension - Ruppel, Oliver C. (Soil Security, 2022)
Soils are essential for food security and the right to food. But where is the connect between soil, trade in agriculture and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO)? While the WTO is not an environmental protection agency (as per its initial design at least), existing WTO rules fail to make agricultural trade patterns sustainable when it comes to the medium of soil. Notwithstanding, trade policy is of growing importance to soil protection, biodiversity preservation, deforestation, land degradation and desertification. Soil is key in this regard not only because it is the world's second-largest carbon sink after the oceans. Unsustainable trade in agricultural commodities should increasingly be seen in light of an industrial transition to increased climate neutrality and decarbonisation. This in turn should be guided by the leitmotiv – in times of climate change - to place soil protection for sustainable food security at the centre of any economic policy, also in terms of the rules on international trade in agriculture under the WTO.
Keywords: Climate change; Decarbonisation; Food security; Soil protection; Trade in agriculture; World trade law

The Economics of Trade, Innovation and the Technology Revolution - Tharwat, Ismaeel (Université Paris-Saclay, 2022)
Cette thèse étudie principalement l'impact du commerce international sur l'innovation, avec un accent particulier sur les pays en développement. Elle couvre également l'impact des retombées commerciales sur les inégalités de genre. Le chapitre 1 présente un aperçu de la littérature économique théorique et empirique récente traitant de l'effet de la concurrence des importations sur les résultats liés à l'innovation. Ce chapitre est divisé en quatre sections. Tout d'abord, un historique des brevets et des marques déposées en tant qu'indicateurs d'innovation est présenté. Deuxièmement, les mécanismes théoriques qui sous-tendent l'impact de la concurrence des importations sur l'innovation sont discutés. Troisièmement, une revue de la littérature des études empiriques récentes sur le commerce et l'innovation est résumée. Enfin, une analyse empirique est menée pour examiner l'impact de la concurrence des importations chinoises sur l'innovation, mesurée par l'activité de dépôt de brevet, dans les pays en développement.Le chapitre 2 est un exercice empirique qui examine l'impact de la concurrence des importations chinoises sur l'innovation, en utilisant une nouvelle mesure qui est le dépôt de brevet. L'étude utilise un ensemble de données de panel de 1995 à 2018 sur plus de 100 pays en développement. Le modèle empirique corrige l'endogénéité en utilisant une approche de variable instrumentale qui permet d'identifier la part du développement dû aux importations chinoises dans d'autres pays en développement. Les principales estimations trouvent un effet global décroissant de la concurrence des importations sur l'activité de dépôt de brevet. Les résultats de la variable instrumentale sont particulièrement robustes pour les demandes de brevet, mais pas pour les enregistrements. Cela suggère que la concurrence des importations affecte négativement les nouvelles innovations locales de produits ou de services dans les pays en développement.Enfin, le chapitre 3 aborde la question de l'impact des retombées du commerce international sur les normes d'égalité de genre. La majorité des études existantes documentent l'effet des épisodes de libéralisation sur les inégalités de genre. Celui des acteurs commerciaux, en revanche, a été largement ignoré. L'inégalité de genre au sein d'un pays est-elle affectée par ses partenaires commerciaux? Nous avons examiné cette question dans cet article en adoptant un modèle spatial du commerce entre 123 pays sur la période 1997-2013. Nous utilisons l'indice d'inégalité de genre pour capturer les tendances globales sur le genre au sein d'un pays. Nous avons ensuite désagrégé les échanges commerciaux au niveau produits afin d'identifier un canal technologique. Les résultats montrent que des normes d’égalité de genre plus élevées à l'étranger se répercutent, via les importations de produits de moyenne, haute technologie et minéraux, sur des normes d'égalité de genre plus élevées au niveau national. Ces résultats suggèrent qu'une révolution technologique affecte les entreprises, les ménages et les gouvernements en ayant un impact sur l'autonomisation des femmes.
Keywords: Brevets; Brevets d'invention; Economie du genre; Economie internationale; Gender Economics; Innovation; International Trade; Marques commerciales; Marques de commerce; Patents; Technologie; Technology; Trademarks; Économie de marché; Études sur le genre

Does the implementation of IFRS improve transparency regarding the company's financial conditions?: evidence from an emerging market - Ebaid, Ibrahim El-Sayed (PSU Research Review, 2022)
Purpose This study aims to examine whether there are differences between financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and financial statements prepared in accordance with local accounting standards in terms of its ability to present the financial conditions of companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange as one of the emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach Data on study variables were obtained from the published financial statements of 67 of listed companies in the Saudi Stock Exchange during the period 2014–2019. The study addressed the research hypotheses by using Altman Z-score model. Both the T-test and Wilcoxon rank test were used to investigate the significance of differences between the values of Z-score and the individual variables included in the model in the pre- and post-IFRS mandatory adoption periods. Findings The results revealed a decrease in the values of Z-score as well as the values of the individual variables included in the model in the period following the adoption of IFRS than it was before the adoption of IFRS, which indicates the ability of IFRS to show the financial conditions of companies more transparently than local accounting standards. However, the results of the T-test and Wilcoxon test showed that these decreases were not statistically significant. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations, including the small sample size as a result of the small size of the Saudi Stock Exchange, As well as the reliance of this study only on the Altman model with its five variables in assessing financial conditions without examining the impact of other factors that may affect the financial conditions of companies. Practical implications Financial conditions of the companies have important implications for multiple parties such as management, government, investors and others as an early warning sign that enables them to take the necessary measures early before the actual bankruptcy occurs and what results in costs. Originality/value Although assessing financial conditions of the companies is one of the basic uses of accounting information, this topic has not received sufficient attention as a means to test the benefits of adopting IFRS, especially in emerging markets such as Saudi Stock Exchange. This is the first study to examine the impact of adopting IFRS on the transparency of financial reporting in assessing financial conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Financial conditions; IFRS; Saudi Arabia; Z-score

Factors affecting the probability of formalizing informal sector activities in Sub Saharan Africa: evidence from World Bank enterprise surveys - Moyo, Busani (African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2022)
Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors that affect the likelihood of formalizing informal sector activities in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries, using World Bank enterprise survey data collected between the periods 2009 and 2018. Notwithstanding the great contribution of the informal economy in Africa, developing countries may stand to gain more if they make inroads in formalizing the informal sector. Design/methodology/approach Since the dependent variable is binary taking the value of one if the firm is willing to formalize and zero otherwise, the study will employ a discrete choice probit model. Findings Results inter alia show that firms that are more likely to formalize are young, owned by individuals with high levels of education and, have registered before. Governments should therefore target firms that are young and provide them with information about the benefits of registration, and if these firms are owned by experienced and educated individuals, the likelihood for them to register would be high. Research limitations/implications The study uses cross sectional data and therefore cannot capture time variant factors affecting the probability to register and also cannot correct effectively for endogeneity. Practical implications Governments should therefore target firms that are young and provide them with as much information as possible about the benefits of registration, and if these firms are owned by experienced and educated individuals, the likelihood to convince them to register would be high. They should also reduce the cost of registration so as to improve net benefits in line with the rational exit view. Social implications Formalizing informal activities will help improve the performance of these firms, reduce vulnerable employment as well as crime, poverty and inequality. Providing decent operating and working conditions to informal players will reduce social and political unrest. Originality/value The African continent is home to many informal firms accounting for roughly 55% of economic activity with 90% of workers eking out a living in a sector that does not respect worker rights, provide decent working conditions and where changes in growth have done little to reduce its size. Regulatory reforms have also been implemented resulting in the number of start-up registration procedures falling from 11 in 2003 to seven in 2019. The uniqueness of Sub Saharan Africa in terms of entrepreneurial culture, political, institutional and economic conditions as well as lack of consensus in the extant empirical literature make this study pertinent.
Keywords: Formalization; Informal; World Bank and Africa

The legal framework for multimodal transport in West Africa: the African Continental Free Trade Area in perspective - Osinuga, Damilola (World Maritime University, 2022)
This thesis examines how multimodal transport can play a role in achieving the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The thesis argues that multimodal transport is cheaper compared with unimodal transportation. While there are a number of issues affecting the operationalisation of multimodal transport in Africa, this study considers, at its core, the legal regimes and other fragmented institutional and governance frameworks of multimodal transport in West Africa. The fragmentation of the legal framework governing multimodal transport leads to uncertainty and unforeseeability of the liability of parties involved in multimodal transport, consequently leading to increased legal costs. There is an undisputed view that for effective regional integration, which Africa is seeking to achieve through the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, there is a need to eliminate all trade barriers. Trade barriers (tariff or non-tariff barriers) should be removed to improve competitiveness and reduce trade friction costs. In other words, to achieve the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, it is essential that all unnecessary costs associated with trade are eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum. The process of doing this is called trade facilitation. This thesis looks at the impact of trade facilitation on regional integration and trade. This thesis’ original contribution to knowledge is that Africa’s regional integration process needs cost-effective transportation in order to achieve smooth market access, and multimodal transportation can provide the most cost-effective solution. However, the legal uncertainty and complexities that could potentially ensue from the use of multimodal transport make it unattractive to prospective users. Accordingly, actions must be taken to reduce legal ambiguity and create a system in which liability is foreseeable and predictable. This study reveals that the current legal framework is incomplete, unsatisfactory and, ultimately, leads to uncertainty. The thesis further contends that neither the option of freedom of contract nor improving the current system of various Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS )member-states’ view of multimodal transport, can significantly improve the current fragmented system or deliver the needed certainty. Accordingly, the thesis proposes that a modified uniform system would help achieve the legal certainty needed for multimodal transport. The thesis finally submits that the ECOWAS should establish a legally binding, regional governance regime on multimodal transport and a majority of its member-states should ratify the instrument.

The impact of the pandemic on the legal regulation of entrepreneurial activity of transport companies - Rubtsova, Natalya (Transportation Research Procedia, 2022)
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the trends of legal regulation in the business activity under the conditions of new coronavirus infection. The dialectical method of research in conjunction with a retrospective and comparative analysis made it possible to identify three main trends in the legal regulation of entrepreneurial activity in the framework of new socio-economic realities. The increasing role of state regulation of entrepreneurial activity, based on the use of public and legal means, due to the need to increase state intervention in the activities of entrepreneurs is shown. The state support of business for the subsequent development of the economy and compliance with the social balance is also increasing. Accordingly, the social importance of entrepreneurial activity is growing. The pandemic has also intensified the digitalization of entrepreneurial activity, of transport companies, since many traditional forms of doing business are limited by the forced isolation of society. Individual means of digitalization, including the industrial Internet of Things, e-commerce, and smart contracts, have become most prevalent. Consequently, the pandemic cannot be viewed only as a negative factor, its impact on entrepreneurial activity also has a positive effect.
Keywords: Business; axiology; digitalization; means of legal regulation; pandemic; transport companies

Does the impact of IFRS on audit fees differ between early and late adopters? - Tawiah, Vincent Konadu (International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, 2022)
Purpose This study aims to examine whether the impact of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) on audit fees differs between early and late adopters. Design/methodology/approach The authors use robust econometric estimation on a sample of 314 firms from both early and late IFRS adopting countries. Findings The authors find that IFRS is positively and significantly associated with an increase in audit fees for early adopters, but the impact is very weak for late adopters and insignificant in some cases. The results on auditing time suggest that increase in audit fees around IFRS adoption is due to an increase in audit reporting lags. After accounting for pre- and post-years, the authors find that the relationship between IFRS and audit fees, as well as audit time for late adopters, is significant only in the adoption year. However, early adopters experience a significant increase in audit fees and audit time in the transition year to one-year post-adoption. Practical implications The findings imply that countries that are yet to adopt IFRS are less likely to experience a significant increase in audit fees audit time. Hence, is probable that the benefit of IFRS will outweigh the cost. Originality/value The results, therefore, suggest that early adopters paid a premium for been the first users of IFRS, which is consistent with any innovation. The study provides new insights by demonstrating that the consequences of IFRS differ between early and late adopters.
Keywords: Africa; Audit fees; Audit reporting lags; Early adopters; IFRS; Late adopters

Accountability during the Incorporation of Public and Private Limited Companies under Ohada Law - Sama, Merinda Afanui (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2022)
This work sets out to evaluate the OHADA Uniform Act’s laws on accountability in Private and Public Limited Companies. Normally, laws which provide for effective accountability, guarantee the smooth functioning and stability of companies since its rules work at averting all forms of mismanagements. The inspiration of this work stems from the realization that, levels of accountability in these companies are still wanting. Hitherto, companies are plagued with vices of obscured activities, fake transactions, non-transparent reporting and acute dishonesty by its organs. It is therefore baffling that, these are still prevalent despite the existence of the Uniform Act’s laws which contains accountability mechanism aimed at dispelling all these forms of corporate transgressions. From this arose lingering doubts as to how these laws are.

Foreign Bank Penetration, Institutional Structures and Banking Sector Stability in Sub-saharan Africa - Abeka, Mac Junior (University of Cape Coast, 2022)
Link broken
Keywords: Bank penetration; Banking sector; Sub-Saharan Africa

The Singapore Convention on Mediation: a commentary - Alexander, Nadja; Chong, Shouyu; Giorgadze, Vakhtang (Kluwer Law International, 2022)
Article-by-article commentary
Selected contents: Foreword by Anna Joubin-Bret, p. xiii
Keywords: Dispute Settlement; MARD; Mediación; Mediation; Mediação; Médiation; UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements resulting from Mediation (2018)

Do corporate governance codes matter in Africa? - Areneke, Geofry; Khlif, Wafa; Kimani, Danson; Soobaroyen, Teerooven (Research Handbook on Corporate Board Decision-Making, 2022)
Africa is often depicted in the literature as the ‘patron late to the party’ on account of her low uptake of corporate governance codes. Notwithstanding, countries that have an existing corporate governance code continue to exhibit weak corporate accountability and governance practices. This prompted a critical analysis based on a detailed review of published articles and existing codes in the African multiple-contexts. Our findings reveal that the efficacy of many codes remains very limited in terms of pragmatic outcomes whilst firms in countries that have adopted codes continue to face uneven performance and poor accountability. We conclude by urging for an understanding of the reasons underlying such results. We recommend an African led re-think (independence, ownership, board processes) of existing codes to make them more aligned with the governance needs of African firms and their complex sociocultural background. We call for further research to illuminate Africa’s actual governance experiences and necessities.
Keywords: Africa; African principles; Board of directors; Boardroom processes; Codes; Corporate governance; Developing countries; Neo-colonialism

La jurisprudence de la Cour commune de justice et d'arbitrage (CCJA) sur l'immunité d'exécution au profit des entreprises publiques - Quo vadis? - Ayikaba, Jules Masuku (Recht in Afrika, 2022)
This study traces the evolution of the CCJA case law on the principle of exemption from enforcement for public companies. It aims in particular to highlight the direction in which this case law is moving. It appears that the CCJA has so far not succeeded in elaborating its own definition of the concept of 'public companies'; yet it is there that, in our view, the mystery of the immunity from execution that it has long recognized to these companies hides; even when they were incorporated in the form of a corporation. However, over time, the Court has rightly reversed its previous decisions by moving from an extensive to a restrictive interpretation of exemption from enforcement. In any case, the involvement of the lawmaker is more than welcome in order to put an end to the situation of inequality, which has existed for a long time in terms of enforcement under OHADA law, between corporations having the State or its branches (public companies) as shareholders and those whose shareholders have no State participation.

Dissenting opinions in international arbitration : More than an opinion? - Baltag, Crina (Principia, 2022)
Dissenting opinions have increasingly gained acceptance in international arbitration, with arbitration rules and laws allowing them, by either providing directly for such a possibility, or indirectly, by referring to ‘arbitral awards taken with majority of votes.’ Alan Redfern’s seminal 2003 Freshfields Lecture on dissenting opinions has highlighted the benefits, as well as the concerns with dissenting opinions, in particular, with those directed to alleged irregularities in the arbitral procedure. More recently, in the motion to set aside the arbitral award in Vantage Deep Water Co. v. Petrobras Am., Inc., the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas has rejected Petrobras’ argument that ‘the arbitral process was [so] “fundamentally flawed” … that “produced the extraordinary Dissent filed” by Mr Gaitis.’ While it is accepted that dissenting opinions have no legal effects, and in particular no legal effects similar to arbitral awards, they can have significant impact on the set aside and recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. Las opiniones disidentes han ganado aceptación en el arbitraje internacional mediante reglas de arbitraje y leyes permitiéndolos, ya sea aceptando directamente la posibilidad de emitirlos, o indirectamente refiriéndose a ‘laudos arbitrales decididos por mayoría de votos’. El seminario del 2003 de Freshfields dictado por Alan Redfern sobre opiniones disidentes llamó la atención sobre los beneficios y las preocupaciones, en particular, aquellas opiniones disidentes dirigidas a señalar irregularidades en el procedimiento arbitral. Más recientemente, durante el procedimiento para anular el laudo arbitral de Vantage Deep Water Co. v. Petrobas Am., Inc., la Corte del Distrito Sur de Texas rechazó el argumento de Petrobras de que ‘el procedimiento arbitral había sido [tan] “fudamentalmente viciado…” que “produjo la extraordinaria opinión disidente consignada” por el Sr., Gaitis’. Mientras que es aceptado que las opiniones disidentes no tienen efectos legales, y en particular ningún efecto legal parecido a los laudos arbitrales, pueden lograr impactar significativamente a lograr la nulidad y el reconocimiento y ejecución de los laudos arbitrales.
Keywords: Anulación; Arbitral Awards; Dissenting opinions; Laudo arbitral; Recognition and enforcement; Reconocimiento y ejecución; Set aside; Voto salvado

Digitalization, institutions and new venture internationalization - Brieger, Steven A.; Chowdhury, Farzana; Hechavarría, Diana M.; Muralidharan, Etayankara; Pathak, Saurav; Lam, Yan Tong (Journal of International Management, 2022)
This study examines the effect of digitalization on the internationalization of new ventures and further investigates the influence of a home country’s presence of institutional voids and digital infrastructure on the extent of internationalization by new ventures, with the prediction that a home country’s institutional voids and a weak digital infrastructure strengthen the positive relationship between new ventures’ digitalization and internationalization. Applying multilevel modeling on a sample of more than 6000 entrepreneurs from 62 countries the study offers empirical support for these predictions. The findings are robust to alternative specifications. Entrepreneurs using the internet to sell their products and services are more likely to focus on customers in foreign markets when they face institutional voids and a lack of digital infrastructure in their home countries. The study contributes as follows: From a theoretical view, it provides a better understanding of the boundary conditions of the digitalization-new venture internationalization linkage. From a practical perspective, the findings of the study suggest the complementary roles of institutional voids and digital infrastructure at home to help entrepreneurs grow domestically and facilitate their internationalization.

The Limits of Public Contract Law - Casey, Anthony J.; Niblett, Anthony (Law and Contemporary Problems, 2022)
This work received SSHRC funding
Accepted: 2023-06-19T20:16:27Z

The rising role of China and Chinese enterprises in transnational labour law: Theoretical inquiries and case studies in the context of Chinese outward mining investment in Africa - Chen, Si (McGill University, 2022)
Transnational labour law scholarship has emerged over the past three decades. However, relatively limited scholarship has explored the role of actors from emerging market economies and the challenges and opportunities they have brought for achieving decent work in a globalized economy. This thesis addresses the research gap through an in-depth investigation into the role of actors from China in the dynamics of multi-level governance of labour rights in a globalized economy. Building on a multi-level, actor-centred and processual approach, this thesis argues that China and Chinese enterprises are playing a rising role in developing and shaping the dynamics of multi-level governance of labour rights in the global cobalt supply chain. Furthermore, the thesis suggests that actors from China have started challenging some unequal patterns of existing labour governance in the global cobalt supply chain and have demonstrated the potential to form a counterbalancing force to challenge the dominant role of actors from the global North. A multi-level governance framework has recently emerged and rapidly evolved in the global cobalt supply chain to eliminate child labour in the artisanal copper-cobalt mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This framework is complex, pluralistic, and decentred. A wide range of state and non-state actors are developing various governance initiatives and shaping the dynamics of multi-level governance. Actors from China are playing a rising role in the global cobalt supply chain alongside a few other actors that have also provided proposals from the global South. Over the past decade, Chinese state agencies, nationwide industry associations and mining enterprises have proactively engaged in developing and shaping the multi-level governance framework to address governance deficits on decent work in the global cobalt supply chain. State agencies have developed various regulatory documents to enhance the social dimension of the Chinese regulatory framework for outward foreign direct investment. Nationwide industry associations have further conceptualized the term “corporate social responsibility” and have taken labour rights as key to the social responsibilities of Chinese enterprises operating overseas. Specifically, a Chinese nationwide industry association for the mining industry has developed comprehensive guidelines and initiatives to clarify and operationalize the labour component of social responsibilities in Chinese outward mining investment. The changing dynamics of multi-level governance have played a crucial role in shaping the private labour governance initiatives that Chinese mining enterprises are developing in the global cobalt supply chain. The contributions of this thesis are original, significant, and timely, given the notable research gaps on China and Chinese enterprises’ engagement with the dynamics of multi-level governance of labour rights in a globalized economy and the ongoing development of a multi-level governance framework in the global cobalt supply chain
Identifier: https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/7d2790853
Keywords: Chinese enterprise; Droit du travail; Investment in Africa; Labour law; Transnational labour law

Contract Interpretation in Investment Treaty Arbitration: A Theory of the Incidental Issue - Chernykh, Yuliya (Brill, 2022)
For the first time, a monograph provides a systematic, in-depth account of contract interpretation in investment treaty arbitration and offers a conceptual paradigm that would enhance the quality of the tribunals’ reasoning.; Readership: The monograph is of relevance for legal scholars, practitioners and policymakers in the field of investment treaty arbitration. The book will also be of additional value to postgraduate and doctoral students.
Accepted: 2022-04-07T09:15:30Z
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Contract interpretation; International law; Investment arbitration; Investments

Local Content Requirements in WTO Law: Between Free Trade and the Right to Development - De Lima Figueiredo, Natalia (Maastricht University; Universidade de São Paulo, 2022)
In the international arena, there is a strong rhetoric against a type of industrial policy measure called local content requirements (LCRs). They are often characterised, especially by developed countries, as protectionist measures. However, under certain circumstances, LCRs can have a central role in a country’s development process. Indeed, both developed and developing countries use them to boost their economies. Despite this developmental aspect of LCRs, WTO (World Trade Organization) rules restrict their use. The WTO Agreement, however, has a development dimension and WTO law is supposed to be read in light of the wider corpus of international law. The right to development, in turn, is a principle rooted in core human rights treaties, is consolidated in several instruments of soft law nature and could potentially play a role in the interpretation of WTO provisions. In this scenario, the thesis investigates if it is possible to further a development-oriented interpretation of WTO rules affecting LCRs so that those measures that incorporate genuine development goals are not considered a violation of WTO rules.
Keywords: Development; Free Trade; Human rights; Local content requirements (LCRs); WTO; World Trade Organization

The conclusion of contracts by electronic agents in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution : a South African perspective - Doughan, Albert Nana (University of Johannesburg, 2022)
Please refer to full text to view abstract.
Keywords: Commercial law; Contracts; Electronic data interchange; Industry 4.0

COFOLA International 2022: Current Challenges of Resolution of International (Cross-Border) Disputes - Drličková, Klára; Malachta, Radovan; Provazník, Patrik (Masaryk University Press, 2022)
- Bridging the Public-Private Law Divide in the Conflict of Laws; - New Practices in Alternative Dispute Resolution: New Pathways to Peace; - The Singapore Convention: A Giant Leap for Mediation or Just Too Good to Be True; - Potential Nexus Between the Enforceability of Foreign Judgments and the Quality of Civil Justice in ASEAN Did the Preliminary Objections Judgment Resolve the Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty Dispute? - The Order of Periodic Penalty Payments by the CJEU in Cases Filed by a State Against Another State; - The Dichotomy of Obligations of Conduct and Result in International Investment Law; - Investment Arbitration Reform: Third-Party Funding in Investment Arbitration; - Between Protection and Access to Justice: On the Regulation of Returns in Third-Party Litigation Funding; - Contract Adjustment in Arbitration : Should the Approach Be Adjusted? - Current Challenges of Enforcing Annulled Arbitral Awards; - Condifentiality of Arbitral Awards on National, International and Institutional Level; - Digitalisation of Judicial Cooperation in the EU: A Long Road Ahead; - Resolving Cross-Border Consumer Disputes: The Digital Experience in China; - Law Applicable to Non-Consumer Contracts Concluded at an Electronic Auction; - Can Robot Judges Solve the So-Called “Hard Cases”? - Current Challenges of Cross-Border Disputes in Slovakia : Is Slovak Law Anchored in the 21st century

Bank Bail-ins in International Investment Law - Duque-Cordero, Luciano (Universität Wien, 2022)
The global financial crisis led to the introduction of special resolution regimes for financial institutions. The most prominent innovation of these resolution regimes is the so-called bail-in tool, which allows regulators to recapitalise financial institutions by expropriating shareholders and creditors. This thesis analyses the conditions under which a hypothetical bail-in of a financial institution would constitute a compensable breach of international investment law. It identifies the issues that are most likely to be relevant if a bail-in were to be litigated before an investment arbitration tribunal. The thesis first addresses jurisdictional issues, in particular the question of whether bail-inable instruments can even be considered an investment in procedural terms. The analysis then continues to substantive standards of protection. It deals comprehensively with the question of expropriation and related issues such as compensation, the right to regulate, and causation. It concludes with possible violations of the fair and equitable treatment standard.
https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/detail/o:1417287
Keywords: Bail-in; Bank resolution; Expropriation; International Investment Law; Investments

The role of good faith in South African contract law - Govender, Tashri (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2022)
This research paper seeks to address the role that good faith plays in South African contract law by first discussing its origin and then chronologically tracing its position from pre-1994 to today. The judgements of both the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court will be unpacked, as a means to understand the development of good faith over the years. The position that good faith plays in foreign jurisdictions will also be discussed, for the sake of achieving a universal understanding of how good faith is perceived around the world. The research concludes by placing good faith in its current role and context in South Africa, and also proposing a way forward.
Keywords: Bona fides; Contract Law

Guide to the writing of law for the Social and Solidarity Economy - Hiez, David (SSE International Forum, 2022)
Keywords: Cooperatives; Social Enterprises; Social and Solidarity Economy

Arbitration Rules In force as from 1 January 2021 and Mediation Rules In force as from 1 January 2014 - International Chamber of Commerce (ICC DRS Publications, 2022)
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Arbitration rules; MARD; Mediación; Mediation; Mediation rules; Mediação; Médiation

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures as barriers to trade : a South African perspective - Joubert, Biandri (North-West University, 2022)
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are measures aimed at the protection of human, animal and plant life and health, within World Trade Organization (WTO) Member territories, from the risks associated with the introduction and spread of pests and diseases into such territories through trade. The WTO, through its Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO-SPS), guides the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and provides a set of guiding principles, rights and obligations applicable to Member States. Dispute resolution through the processes of the WTO is available to Members on a Member to Member level within a defined scope and on specific terms. Private parties who operate within the SPS chain at a national level, whether involved in import or export or neither, are dependent on solutions to barriers or disputes available to them through national legislation. In the absence of an enabling legal framework to facilitate aspects of trade such as certainty and continuity in standard setting, the basis of measures taken in science, transparency and legal recourse to resolving barriers or disputes arising, private parties are vulnerable to fluctuations in, for example, their country’s disease-free status. Private parties are also vulnerable to losing relevance as trading partners in periods of ongoing SPS events and to the loss of trust that trading partners have in the country’s ability to trade safely. These are matters that affect private parties who do not have legal recourse to the WTO dispute resolution procedures which are well within WTO concern as they are directly related to the purpose of SPS measures, the principles, rights and obligations on which they are based. Given the importance of agriculture and the increasing inseparability of international rights, obligations and principles in a field of WTO law such as SPS, the importance of a national legislative framework in as far as being the translator of such rights, obligations and principles into legally enforceable rights, obligations, principles, processes and procedures is significant. The rights, obligations, and principles of SPS measures apply to all products, processes and procedures that are within the scope of the agreement and may include at least 36 chapters of the harmonised tariff book. It is necessary to consider also that international trade, national trade and the associated rights, obligations, and principles of the WTO-SPS agreement interact with the social, political, and economic realities of the country within the countries to which the agreement applies. Therefore, researching some of the persistent challenges experienced by the red meat industry in South Africa prone to negative trade-related consequences during and after the outbreak of a notifiable disease, provides insight into the perception of the ability of the legislative framework to provide solutions to these consequences. This research applies a mixed methodology approach whereby qualitative research by means of semi-structured interviews was combined with doctrinal legal research and a quantitative content analysis using Rprogramming. The qualitative research focused on the role of legislation and the perspectives of selected actors in the red-meat industry, specifically in reference to the foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) outbreaks and subsequent loss of disease-free status since 2019. The doctrinal legal analysis and content analysis focused on the SPS-related legislative framework. The combination of these methods provides a multi-perspective analysis of SPS measures as barriers to trade from a South African perspective and contributes to the mixed-methods turn in legal studies. The objective of this research is to identify and explore persistent challenges to the prevention and resolution of barriers or disputes connected to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in the South African context. Ultimately, this research recommends potential practical solutions to the identified challenges with specific focus on SPS-related barriers or disputes that are beyond the strict terms of dispute resolution available through the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Keywords: AfCFTA; Barriers to trade; CADA; CAQDSA; Content analysis; Dispute resolution; FMD; NTB; OIE; Qualitative research; Rstudio; SADC; SPS; Sanitary and phytosanitary measures; WTO

Privacy Between Regulation and Technology: GDPR and the Blockchain - Jusić, Asim (IUS LAW Journal, 2022)
Compliance with the GDPR while using blockchain technology for data processing results in compliance issues, due to the fact that the blockchain and the GDPR employ different methods to ensure privacy-by-design and privacy-by-default. The blockchain is built on disintermediation and relative decentralization, whereas the GDPR aims for re-intermediation and relative centralization of the data protection process. This paper provides an overview of and suggestions on how to secure compliance with the GDPR while processing data using the blockchain. A focus is placed on the data protection impact assessment on the blockchain network, issues in identifying and determining the role(s) of sole and joint data controllers and data processors, obstacles to exercising the right to rectification and right to be forgotten when the data is recorded on the blockchain, GDPR data transfer requirements as applied to the blockchain, and the protection of privacy in the process of creating blockchain-based smart contracts.
Keywords: Blockchain; Compliance; GDPR; Privacy

Paradigm Shift in Investment Treaty Arbitration: Toward Stricter Control over the Qualifications and Conduct of Arbitrators - Kamalinejad, Hassan (University of Victoria, 2022)
There is a growing concern over the qualifications and social interactions of investment treaty arbitrators. The characteristics of this class of international adjudicators have significantly evolved over the past few decades. The contemporary arbitration panelist interacts within a broad and complex network of arbitration participants. Their patterns of social behavior both within the community of panelists and within the broader network of actors in arbitration proceedings have fundamentally reshaped the composition, dynamics and culture of the arbitration community. These new forms of relationships and patterns of conduct are new in the context of public international law. These have created unprecedented challenges to the investment treaty arbitration system. New manifestations of attributes and social behavior of panelists demonstrate inadequacies of the existing standards, rules and procedures that govern panelists. This study surveys problematic patterns of social behavior of investment treaty adjudicators and shows how certain instances of social behavior inevitably or potentially jeopardize the very foundations of the system. This research empirically examines the voting behavior of two distinct groups of party-appointed panelists, and the results reveal a relationship between appointments and the decision-making attitude of adjudicators. It further methodically maps the pool of ICSID panelists and answers the question ‘who are ICSID panelists?’ It reviews the evolution of the attributes of ICSID adjudicators, assesses the composition of the ICSID pool, and evaluates the social interactions of this group of investment treaty adjudicators. To address the challenges that investment treaty arbitration faces, a radical and multidimensional shift is occurring in the system. This transformation is directed towards greater control over the qualifications and conduct of adjudicators. These developments reconstruct the composition of the pool of adjudicators and influence how they interact with other actors in investment treaty arbitration proceedings. The ongoing reform progress indicates that the attributes and behavior of future investment treaty adjudicators would likely be different from the characteristics and conduct of the contemporary generation of panelists.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/14772
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Arbitrators; Code of conduct; ICSID; Impartiality; Investment treaties; Investment treaty arbitration; Investments; Permanent court system; Qualifications; State practice

A critical analysis of the institution of business rescue proceedings during liquidation proceedings - Krishundutt, Sanam (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2022)
South Africa is currently undergoing harsh economic times, and as such, many companies are feeling the brunt of the situation. As a result, these companies begin to trade at a loss and are left without any other option but to liquidate their affairs in order to pay off creditors. However, with the development brought by the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (“the Act”), business rescue was introduced. Business rescue is an alternative to liquidation and it allows the company to undergo rehabilitation and continue trading if certain requirements are met. Chapter 6 of the Act aims to assist businesses in providing some sort of relief in the form of business rescue to provide them with the breathing space that they require to try and become a viable business again. Just like any new formulated concept, it is susceptible to abuse. Many companies that are already under liquidation are suspending their liquidation in favour of business rescue, despite, in some instances, the liquidation order having already been granted against the company. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the question of whether a business can suspend liquidation proceedings in favour of business rescue more prevalent as the pandemic has caused a detrimental financial impact on a number of businesses. Now more than ever businesses find themselves struggling to keep afloat, and as a result many of them have to consider the avenues of liquidation or business rescue. This dissertation aims to look at both liquidation and business rescue proceedings and decipher whether the courts were correct in their decision regarding when business rescue proceedings can be instituted during liquidation proceedings. The importance of taking into account the above is due to the fact that many companies in present day are experiencing financial difficulties, and liquidation or business rescue proceedings are the options that they are left with. However, one has to carefully consider both options, taking into account the company’s financial circumstances. This is of importance, as one needs to establish if there is a reasonable prospect of rescuing the company or not. If there were, then business rescue would indeed be the route to be taken, but if not, then liquidation proceedings would be. However, many companies that have no prospect of being rescued, and that have already opted for liquidation may want to institute business rescue proceedings to delay the inevitable and frustrate creditors, thus leading to the abuse of the newly formulated concept, which has to be curbed.
Keywords: Business failure; Companies Act 71 of 2008; South Africa

Climate change and development : the global administrative law of the UNFCCC financial mechanism - Larrea, Gonzalo (European University Institute, 2022)
This research deals with the legal responsibility of states to provide climate finance to developing countries in order to facilitate climate mitigation and adaptation. The research demonstrates that the area of climate finance has not escaped globalization, where global actors operating at a level beyond the state (the UNFCCC and several Climate Funds) have increasingly taken over some of the climate finance functions previously performed by states. Against this backdrop, the thesis also examines the role of international bodies in providing climate finance, assesses to what extent these bodies are accountable to affected local stakeholders, and puts forward recommendations to foster increased accountability. The research project employs Global Administrative Law (GAL) as a normative framework for assessing and fostering accountability. This thesis is relevant, first and foremost, as an examination of the extent to which global climate finance is adequate for addressing climate change impacts in developing countries. To this end, it engages in a detailed analysis of the international legal framework for climate change and of the relevant financial instruments. It also engages in a normative evaluation of these instruments using the standards proposed by GAL. In keeping with this, the research gives substance and a better definition to these standards. As such, the thesis has the potential to contribute not only to the literature on climate finance, but also to the literature on GAL. It also sheds light on the relationship between climate finance and GAL, a topic that has been largely neglected in the academic literature so far.
Accepted: 2022-03-02T09:10:59Z
Keywords: Climate Change; Climatic changes; Environmental Law

Letters of credit and demand guarantees : a legal study on the impact of targeted financial sanctions from a South African perspective - Lupton, Cayle Selwyn (University of Johannesburg, 2022)
The purpose of this study is to provide a legal analysis of the impact of targeted financial sanctions on letters of credit and demand guarantees. The letter of credit is an important method of payment used in international trade. The demand guarantee plays a significant role as an instrument of security in commercial transactions. In their simplest form both instruments constitute an undertaking by a bank to pay a beneficiary against delivery of certain stipulated documents. Letters of credit and demand guarantees are known to be reliable and provide a considerable measure of certainty and predictability to the underlying transaction. Consequently, they have been described as the “lifeblood of international commerce”. Targeted financial sanctions entail assets freezing and prohibitions to prevent funds or other assets from being made available, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of designated individuals and entities. Endorsed by the United Nations and implemented by the vast majority of jurisdictions around the world, targeted financial sanctions are increasingly being used to combat financial crime, including money laundering, terrorism financing and weapon proliferation financing. Banks play a critical role in financial crime prevention and detection. Hence they have been identified as institutions that must comply with targeted financial sanctions. The relationship between targeted financial sanctions and letters of credit and demand guarantees has generally not been well documented. It is hoped, therefore, that this study will make a meaningful contribution to the jurisprudence on letters of credit and demand guarantees. In investigating the impact of targeted financial sanctions, the study can be categorised into three parts. Part one investigates a bank’s compliance with domestic targeted financial sanctions. The chief findings of the study in this regard are that banks are under a legal obligation to comply with sanctions and, as a result, a bank that refuses to perform its contractual obligations under a letter of credit or demand guarantee may have a defence in law. In South African law the bank can raise the so-called defence of legal impossibility of performance to resist a claim for, or potential litigation in respect of, payment. Part two investigates a bank’s compliance with foreign targeted financial sanctions. Because compliance in this regard has no (legal) basis, the bank may conceivably be sued by the beneficiary for payment on the basis of breach of contract. Part three investigates problematic documentary practices that banks have adopted or conceivably may adopt to manage their sanctions risk exposure. In this regard, attention is given to so-called sanctions clauses and other non-documentary conditions. The issue of unjustified amendments by the beneficiary for the purposes of sanctions evasion is also considered in part three. The general conclusion arrived at is that by interfering with payment, targeted financial sanctions render letters of credit and demand guarantees unreliable, thereby having the effect of reducing their value to international trade and commerce. The author proposes certain recommendations and initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of targeted financial sanctions on credits and guarantees. Key terms: letters of credit; demand guarantees; financial crime; sanctions evasion; targeted financial sanctions; compliance; banks; due diligence; payment; reimbursement; credits; guarantees.
Keywords: Banks; Compliance; Credits; Demand guarantees; Due diligence; Financial crime; Guarantees; Letters of credit; Payment; Reimbursement; Sanctions evasion; Targeted financial sanctions

A critical analysis of the role, appointment, and powers of a business rescue practitioner - Luthuli, Bayanda Nompumelelo (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2022)
No abstract provided.
URI: https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/20930
Keywords: Corporate rescue regime; Financially distressed companies; Judicial management

Relationship between International and Domestic Law in the Constitutions of the States of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa - Mairema, Jacqueline (Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 2022)
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the constitutional provisions relating to the relationship between international law and domestic law of the States of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa reveals an ambivalent conception of the system relationships. This is all the more true since the choice of monism with primacy of international law is affirmed both formally and materially. Even if this variant of monism seems to be tempered by certain constitutional provisions, the treaties have considerable effects in the domestic legal order. Once integrated into the legal order through the modalities of insertion, treaties have a supra-legislative and infra-constitutional rank. However, some constitutions of the States of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, such as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, have not enshrined constitutional provisions on the place of treaties in the legal order. The concern to safeguard the supremacy of the constitution and consequently of national sovereignty may justify such a constitutional practice.
Keywords: Droit d’origine externe; Dualism; Insertion; International law; Monism; Monisme; National law; System relationship; Sécurité juridique

Airport Charges Regulation: A Private Law Approach - Mei, Di (McGill University, 2022)
This thesis explores the regulation of airport charges, which is an important but marginalised topic. It particularly examines how private law instruments can play a role in the regulatory process. Airports used to be subject to traditional regulation, which operates in a command-and-control mode. As the airport industry becomes increasingly complicated, traditional regulation seems problematic. First, the method that is associated with traditional regulation to draw a line between regulated and unregulated airports has downsides. Second, the international regulatory framework on airport charges lacks binding rules. This suggests that traditional regulation is not the best niche for airport charges regulation. Third, good regulation needs independent regulatory bodies, which are hard to achieve in practice.In this context, this thesis argues that a private law approach can serve as a more flexible and effective way to regulate airport charges. There are two instruments under this overarching approach. First, contracts can be adopted to incorporate airport charges regulations. Second, robust corporate governance generates the effect of good regulation. This is an interdisciplinary work that has engaged air law, contract law, corporate law, competition law, and aviation business and management. It also employs the method of case studies. Chapter 4 examines the regulation of airport charges in the UK, Canada, and India. The three case studies demonstrate that private law instruments have been implicitly implemented to different degrees in these countries. These demonstrate the feasibility of applying private ordering in the regulatory process. I also look into the regulation of countries and regions including Australia, Ireland, the EU, and Germany throughout this thesis. This study also examines a specific sector of airport charges, namely, charges for ground-handling services. This sector possesses a unique feature in that it is between aeronautical and non-aeronautical services. A private law approach can also be adopted in the regulation of charges relating to ground-handling services. Additionally, ICAO as an important international organisation governing international air transport can also contribute to a private law approach of airport charges through its soft-law making function. This thesis aims to shed light on a private law approach, as an innovative regulatory mechanism, to airport charges. That said, regulation by this approach and traditional regulation are not contradictory but can cooperate to an extent, depending on how much power one wants to give to private ordering
Identifier: https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/8910k0504
Keywords: Airport; Regulation

The abuse of dominant position in digital markets: Google Shopping case - Moroni, Filippo (LUISS Guido Carli, 2022)
Abuse of dominance in the digital markets. Digital markets. Art.102 TFEU: how can it be applied to digital markets? A global perspective: the evolution of the abuse of dominance in digital markets around the world. Europe: the proposal for a regulation on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (digital market act). United States of America: a time for reforms. China: a new approach towards digital markets. The Google Shopping case: the first step for competition enforcement in digital markets. The European Commission decision (AT.39740). The general Court decision (T-612/17). The Google case in the US: completely different results. A glimpse into the future: the Google Shopping case under the DMA.
Keywords: Abus de position dominante; Competencia; Competition law; Concurrence; Dominant position; Monopole

The use of blockchain technology in international commercial transactions, with specific reference to secured payments in international contracts of sale - Muza, Chido Teclar Mitchel (University of Johannesburg, 2022)
Please refer to full text to view abstract.
Keywords: Blockchains (Databases); Commercial law; Electronic funds transfers; Export sales contracts.; Foreign trade regulation

Conflict Management over Maritime Territories : Use of ADR in Maritime Disputes: Kenya vs Somalia - Mwala, Natasha Lulia (Universität Wien, 2022)
The recent discoveries of natural resources on both territorial and maritime borders have heightened the probability of conflicts between states specifically in the Horn of Africa and the Greater Lakes Region. As a highly volatile region, conflicts are not a foreign phenomenon which have been plaguing the region since transition to the post-colonial era. It is simple to argue that the cause of disputes is due to the arbitrary borders drawn by the European powers, however, the region is experiencing a contemporary ‘scramble and petition’ with countries racing to exploit and gain over the newfound resources. In addition to this, the rise of nationalist sentiments combined with the burgeoning population and struggle of governments to finance their domestic budgets while trying to reduce borrowing from foreign markets due to the inflation costs which makes it expensive, also plays a key role in the quest to benefit from mineral exploration and excavation. While traditional conflicts rose from land border disputes that escalated to violence especially between border communities, maritime conflicts tend to be handled in legal ways with parties seeking intervention from bodies such as the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Most cases are solved by outright delimitation of the maritime borders rather that joint management of marine land masses or natural resources based on mutual understanding or mutually assured benefits. The recent Kenya-Somalia Maritime dispute is an excellent case study. The aim of this research is to not only show alternative dispute resolution methods that can be used in maritime border disputes but also analyse the switch from pacific means of settlement of disputes to judicial intervention of the court. It begins by looking at the evolution of land border disputes between the two states, touches on the maritime dispute and their diplomatic, economic and security relationship. It further critically analyses the points of view of the two countries and the court’s ruling. Finally, it examines alternative dispute settlement mechanism that could have been used.
Keywords: ICJ; Joint maritime agreement; LOS; Maritime boundary dispute; Maritime délimitation; Memorandum of understanding

Articulating clearer fair and equitable treatment clauses within Tanzania’s international investment agreements: correcting the disparity between host state and international investor interests - Ntangeki, Joanitha (Canterbury Christ Church University, 2022)
International Investment Agreements seek to promote foreign investment whilst protecting foreign investors. Despite the goal of International Investment Agreements being to secure parity between the interests of the host State and the foreign investor, there has been consequential disparity in the protection of the interests of both parties. Notably, the host State is susceptible to disadvantage. This research examines the extent to which International Investment Agreements in Tanzania have facilitated this disparity. In particular, the research evaluates the inclusion of fair and equitable treatment provisions in Tanzania’s International Investment Agreements and the extent to which fair and equitable treatment provisions have in some way facilitated this disparity. The research examines systematically the fair and equitable treatment provisions contained in twenty IIAs signed by Tanzania between 1965 and 2013 (eleven of which are still in force). The research takes a comparative approach in evaluating and contrasting the Tanzanian provisions with other fair and equitable treatment clauses in IIAs signed by India, Morocco and the Netherland. The Tanzanian provisions are vague and non-uniform in comparison. The research is situated in the broader context of national sovereignty and the relationship between Tanzania and its foreign investors under international law. The substance of the analysis centres on foreign investors in the mining sector in Tanzania and the extent to which these investors have sought to take advantage of the fair and equitable treatment clauses in the IIAs in order to pursue their activities to the detriment of local populations. The research evidences the negative impact of their claims that changes in government policy (often aimed at benefiting citizens) amount to unfair treatment of the foreign investor. This has a significant impact on the ability of the government to develop its policies around sustainable development, environmental protection and the guarantee of human rights of the citizens of the host State. The research demonstrates that a clearer and fuller articulation of fair and equitable treatment clauses within Tanzania’s IIAs can act as a corrective to the disparity between the host State and the international investor. This requires that IIAs are drafted to include an exhaustive and full list of the State’s obligations towards the foreign investor so as to limit foreign investor claims against the host State. The impact of not doing so has grave implications for the rights of the citizens of Tanzania and unnecessarily tips the balance of power in favour of the foreign investor and away from the host State. This undermines the ability of the host State to assert its sovereignty within its own borders.
Permalink: https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/9714v/articulating-clearer-fair-and-equitable-treatment-clauses-within-tanzania-s-international-investment-agreements-correcting-the-disparity-between-host-state-and-international-investor-interests
Keywords: Foreign investment; International investment; Investor interest; Tanzania

The Processes of Democratization and Economic Development in Africa: A Case Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Since 2006 - Otshudi Talo, Esperance (Near East University, 2022)

Rising from its ruins? The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal - Shumba, Tapiwa (Law, Democracy and Development, 2022)
The Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was established to ensure adherence to and the proper interpretation of the provisions of the SADC Treaty and its subsidiary instruments, and to adjudicate upon such disputes as might be referred to it. However, since its establishment, it has had a troubled history. After the rulings it made against the Government of Zimbabwe in the landmark Campbell land seizures case, the Tribunal's operations were unceremoniously suspended. This was followed by a process to revise its mandate, one that ultimately condemned it to paralysis and ruin. The new 2014 Protocol on the Tribunal, meant to revise the mandate of the Tribunal to confine it to hearing disputes involving states only, has been criticised as an attempt to undermine the rule of law and human rights in the region. Since the adoption of this 2014 Protocol by the SADC Summit, stakeholders have mobilised regionally to resist its ratification by member states. In particular, lawyers in SADC countries are embarking on legal petitions to reverse the Protocol and promote the revival of the Tribunal in terms of its old mandate. So far, there have been victories in these cases in two influential SADC member states, South Africa and Tanzania. However, it remains important to assess the significance of these developments. As such, the article raises the question: Is the Tribunal rising from its ruins?
Keywords: Regional integration; Rule of law; SADC Tribunal

Reassessing State Consent to Jurisdiction: The Indispensable Third Party Principle before the ICJ - Sparks, Tom (Nordic Journal of International Law, 2022)
Keywords: Adjudication; Advisory opinion; Certain Phosphate Lands; Chagos Archipelago; Consent; East Timor; Indispensable third party principle; International Court of Justice (icj); Jurisdiction; Monetary Gold

A Closer Look at the Doctrine of Separability in Arbitration - Todorović, Ilijana (IUS LAW Journal, 2022)
In the ever-growing business world impacted by globalization, many commercial contracts nowadays contain an arbitration clause. This article focuses on the history behind arbitration as an alternative method of dispute resolution and its penetration to the forefront of mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes -with focus on England, France, and the United States. The article also delves into some of the key questions related to the relationship between an arbitration clause and the underlying contract in which it is contained. And those are the infamous separability and competence-competence doctrines. The author’s conclusion is that the efficiency of an arbitration clause is feasible only if its autonomy is entrenched and safeguarded from preventative and baseless court intervention. In that regard, the author addresses the consequences, current challenges, judicial and academic discourse, and the need for improvement when it comes to these two arbitral principles -all with the goal to provide contracting parties with forethought as to what to consider when drafting their contracts as to avoid unwelcome consequences.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Competence-Competence; Doctrine; International Arbitration; Issues of Jurisdiction

A legal comparison on the effectiveness of judicial management in Botswana against business rescue in South Africa - Topi, Sharon (University of Johannesburg, 2022)
Please refer to full text to view abstract.

Emergence in the WAEMU and EMCCA areas - Ntwali, Valéry IRAGI; Centwali, Guillain CIRHUZA (Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Studia Europaea, 2021)
The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (EMCCA) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have succeeded in stabilizing their monetary systems, but this monetary stability has not been accompanied by real emergence. The economies of most of the member states of these two organizations are based on commodities and cocoa, which means that they are completely volatile and therefore lack the stability necessary for real emergence. This study based mainly on documentary research through the exploitation of reports produced by various international and regional institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, ECOWAS, etc., and the writings of various emergence theorists, shows the role that industrialization and diversification of the economies of the WAEMU and EMCCA zones should play in the development of the economies of the member states and the improvement of the living conditions of the populations.
Keywords: CEMAC; Emergence; Spaces; UEMOA; WAEMU

The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women In Nigeria - Iheanacho-Shahid, Jennifer (African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 2021)
The paper examines the impact of corona-virus pandemic on women in Nigeria. Emergencies and times of unrest have been linked with increasing reports of Gender Based Violence. Pandemics and Epidemics on the other hand are no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with an increase in Gender Based Violence termed the Shadow Pandemic due to the control measures adopted in containing the spread of the virus. The paper adopted the Social Ecological Model to explain and understand the factors that contribute to the increase of Gender Based Violence against women during emergencies or natural disasters and how interaction of individual and environmental factors influence behavior and attitudes that create an atmosphere that encourages violence. The paper was based on secondary sources of data.  The findings of the paper revealed that the lockdown isolated women and attenuated opportunities for them to divulge the abuse or receive necessary support services or resources.  The paper also discovered that there has been an increased rate of reported cases of Gender Based Violence during the months of lockdown in Nigeria. The paper concluded that the corona-virus outbreak has exposed the shadow pandemic of violence and inequality and the exclusion of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development is a step in the wrong direction . The paper recommended that it is pertinent to integrate gender lens into disease response and protection mechanism and Gender Based Violence services should be termed as essential duties during crisis and emergencies.

Story of a legal codex(t) : writing law in code - Ma, Megan (Institut d'études politiques, 2021)
How is the law measured? For long, it appeared that the law cannot be measured. While there are standards and processes, the law was not regarded as quantifiable. Only in the advent of recent technological advancements in law have there been considerations for metrics. These technologies sought to tackle the legal field’s inherent protectionism fueled by deep asymmetries in information. Consequently, the rise in legal ‘metrics’ stems from an access to justice perspective. The assumption is that in making the law more quantifiable, knowledge that has been historically opaque and inaccessible outside of the legal community may be revealed.Alternatively, it may be argued that the law has always been measurable. Words, through linguistic devices, have shaped legal meaning. In effect, the law conceivably has been measured by its words. In fact, “law exists as text” (Hildebrandt, 2015). I further this line of thinking by investigating natural language as the key vessel through which the law has manifested itself. Does the law depend on natural language to do its work? Importantly, is the language sufficient at housing legal norms?This dissertation seeks to tell a narrative. Broadly, it chronicles the story of law’s intimate relationship with language. But more specifically, the thesis details the law’s recent encounter with the digital. When law met technology, its relationship with language changed, invoking skepticism around its fitness for the conveyance of legal concepts. With the introduction of an innovative player – code – the law had perceivably found its new linguistic match. As a result, code was tested for its ability to perform and accommodate for the law’s demands. Ultimately, confronted by natural language and code, the law is asked whether code can be its language. Comment mesure-t-on le droit ? Longtemps, le droit semblait résister à la mesure. Bien qu'il existe des normes et des processus, le droit n'était pas considéré comme quantifiable. Ce n'est qu'avec l'avènement des récentes avancées technologiques dans le domaine du droit que l'on a commencé à envisager une telle quantification. Ces technologies ont cherché à s'attaquer au protectionnisme inhérent au domaine juridique, alimenté par de profondes asymétries d'information. Par conséquent, l'essor de la "métrique" juridique découle d'une perspective d'accès à la justice. L'hypothèse est qu'en rendant le droit plus quantifiable, des connaissances historiquement opaques et inaccessibles en dehors de la communauté juridique peuvent être révélées.On peut également faire valoir que le droit a toujours été mesurable. Les mots, par le biais de dispositifs linguistiques, ont façonné la signification juridique. En effet, il est concevable que le droit ait été mesuré par ses mots. En effet, "le droit existe en tant que texte" (Hildebrandt, 2015). J'approfondis cette ligne de pensée en examinant le langage naturel en tant que vecteur clé à travers lequel le droit s'est manifesté. La loi dépend-elle du langage naturel pour faire son travail ? Plus important encore, le langage est-il suffisant pour abriter les normes juridiques ?Cette thèse cherche à raconter une histoire. De manière générale, elle relate l'histoire de la relation intime du droit avec le langage. Mais plus spécifiquement, la thèse détaille la rencontre récente du droit avec le numérique. Lorsque le droit a rencontré la technologie, sa relation avec le langage a changé, suscitant le scepticisme quant à son aptitude à transmettre des concepts juridiques. Avec l'introduction d'un acteur innovant - le code - le droit a visiblement trouvé sa nouvelle adéquation linguistique. En conséquence, le code a été mis à l'épreuve quant à sa capacité à fonctionner et à répondre aux exigences du droit. Finalement, confronté au langage naturel et au code, le droit se demande si le code peut être son langage.
Keywords: Connaissance du contexte; Contextual knowledge; Droit et informatique; Informatique; Langage juridique (informatique); Langages de programmation; Law and computation; Linguistics; Linguistique; Programming languages

Four Essays on Tax Transition Reform in Developing Countries - Adandohoin, Kodjo (Université Clermont Auvergne, 2021)
Ces dernières années, la plupart des pays en développement sont confrontés à la nécessité de concilier deux impératifs : d’une part, une demande sociale forte qui nécessite un besoin de ressources publiques supplémentaires, et d’autre part le désarmement tarifaire consécutif aux politiques d’ouverture commerciale, qui les prive de la majeure partie de leurs recettes budgétaires. D’où l’impérieuse nécessité pour ces pays d’assurer une transition dans la structure de leur prélèvement public c’est à dire de transférer la pression fiscale du commerce extérieur vers la fiscalité domestique. Cette thèse s’intéresse à cette problématique et vise à étudier les conditions de réussite d’un tel phénomène dans les pays en développement au travers de quatre essais empiriques. Le premier essai concerne le rôle de la TVA et des droits d’accises dans une première vague de transition. La TVA étant un impôt neutre et à très large assiette fiscale, cette dernière a été suggérée comme outil majeur pour réussir le transfert des ressources publiques du cordon douanier vers la fiscalité domestique et en complémentarité avec les droits d’accises. Nos investigations empiriques soutiennent cette assertion théorique et montrent que le couple TVA-accise joue bien ce rôle de substitut aux recettes de porte en quasi baisse suite au démantèlement tarifaire dans les pays. Néanmoins le rôle d’appui de la TVA et des droits d’accises est limité à partir d’un certain seuil de baisse des recettes de porte, qui traduit aussi le fait que le potentiel de mobilisation fiscale par la TVA dans ces pays est limité et qu’il faudra s’en préoccuper. Dans le second essai nous analysons la transition de seconde génération basée sur les impôts directs (impôts sur les revenus et impôts fonciers). Nous trouvons que les impôts directs sont des outils pauvres de transition fiscale dans les pays en développement. Pourtant, nous trouvons que le développement financier est un médiateur certain et incontestable à une politique de transition fiscale de seconde génération basée sur les impôts directs, car permettant de recouper l’information sur les revenus des contribuables et de générer des traces documentaires à l’administration fiscale, qui permettent d’envisager une mise à fiscalisation des contribuables, gage de recettes fiscales directes supplémentaires dans les pays. Dans le troisième essai, nous nous intéressons à l’effet de la mise en place d’une réforme de transition fiscale sur l’efficience dans la collecte des recettes en menant une étude de cas pour l’union économique et monétaire ouest africaine (UEMOA). Nos résultats supportent l’affirmative, en ce sens que la réforme accroit globalement une mobilisation efficiente des recettes dans la zone UEMOA. Cette efficience entrainerait par ailleurs avec elle une amélioration du climat des affaires dans la zone, suite à la mise en place de cette réforme. Enfin nous terminons cette thèse par un quatrième essai qui interroge quand à lui les impacts distributifs et de pauvreté d’une réforme de transition fiscale basée sur la TVA. Quoique les résultats montrent une incidence régressive de la réforme sur le revenu des ménages, une redistribution par la dépense aurait le mérite d’atténuer l’incidence sociale de cette stratégie de réforme sur le revenu des contribuables.
Keywords: 2SLS-IV model; Accises; Administration fiscale; Analyse des frontières stochastiques; Business climate; Climat des affaires; Computable general equilibrium; Contrôle Synthétique; Coordination fiscale; Corporate tax; Developing countries; Développement financier; Efficience; Efficiency; Effort fiscal; Excise; Exemptions; Exonérations; Financial development; Fiscalité; GMM; Harmonisation; Harmonization; Impôt foncier; Impôt sur le revenu; Impôt sur les sociétés; Income tax; Inequality; Internet; Inégalités; Micro-simulation; Modèle 2SLS-IV; Pauvreté; Pays en développement; Politique fiscale – Pays en voie de développement; Potentiel fiscal; Poverty; Probit and Logit; Probit et Logit; Propensity scores; Property tax; Réforme fiscale; Scores de Propension; Stochastic frontier analysis; Synthetic control; TVA; Tax administration; Tax coordination; Tax effort; Tax potential; Tax reform; Tax transition; Taxation; Taxes sur le commerce extérieur; Trade taxes; Transition fiscale; VAT; Équilibre général calculable

Abuse of dominance and the Internet : an assessment of the South African Regulatory Framework - Koornhof, Pieter Gerhardus Jacobus (Stellenbosch University, 2021)
While electronic commerce in South Africa is still comparatively small, it is growing rapidly. The advent of the internet has potentially fundamental impacts on business and the law both locally and internationally. It is submitted the free competition on the internet is important and will continue to be so in the future. The research in this thesis relates to the rise of so-called internet monopolies (such as Google, Facebook and Amazon) and its implications for competition law enforcement. A particularly problematic aspect of the products provided by some of these companies is that their products and services are ostensibly free to consumers. This thesis examines whether the traditional model for the regulating abuse of dominance would be effective in the instance where such an internet monopoly is charged with a contravention under South African competition law. The research and analysis in the thesis are effectively divided into three parts. The first considers whether abuse of dominance related to the internet deserves closer analysis and also assesses the purposes of competition law and how these are changing (or should change) in the light of new technology and markets. The second part deals with abuse of dominance both generally and specifically in relation to the internet. In this context, the thesis considers how harms may manifest and how dominance may be determined in the context of the internet. The final part considers specific issues that may be problematic in light of the internet. The interrelationship between intellectual property and competition law is analysed, along with aspects pertaining to the assertion of jurisdiction, the nature of competition law enforcement and the extent to which different jurisdictions may (and/or should) cooperate in dealing with abuse of dominance on the internet. The thesis submits that the South African legislative framework for regulating abuse of dominance on the internet is broadly fit for purpose, but that there is a need for developing new approaches and policy within that framework. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge and discourse by providing a comprehensive overview of the regulatory framework in South Africa, informed by comparative analysis; by applying this in a new context (hitherto under-researched in the South African context), and by offering concrete suggestions to frame policy and approach.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123687
Keywords: Competencia; Competition law; E-commerce; Electronic commerce; Internet monopolies; South African competition law; South African legislative Framework

Adoption des normes IFRS dans l’espace OHADA : Fondement théorique, intérêt et enjeux - Nyasseu, Emma Joachim; Yepdo, Florentin Gaël; Tatang Atabonfack, Pulchérie Léonie; Myskinole, Cheguem Shupo Davine (International Journal of Financial Accountability, Economics, Management, and Auditing, 2021)
Du fait des changements profonds qu’apportent les nouveaux concepts sur lesquels se base le référentiel de l’IASB, le passage aux normes IFRS a été qualifié d’une révolution comptable. Le but d’harmonisation de cette institution se réalise à travers la diffusion mondiale progressive des normes IFRS. Toutefois, les entreprises de la zone OHADA sont concernées par ce changement. Compte tenu de la rareté des travaux de recherche dans le domaine, nous essayons d’analyser à travers ce papier, l’adoption de telles normes en contexte OHADA. Pour y parvenir, cet article rappelle le mécanisme de passage aux normes IFRS dans l’espace OHADA, étudie ensuite l’intérêt pour les entreprises de cette zone et enfin met en évidence les enjeux liés à un tel projet. Les principaux résultats montrent que loin d’être un simple outil de présentation et de communication de l’information financière, les IFRS constituent pour les entreprises de la zone OHADA, un levier d’attraction des investisseurs et d’intégration économique.
Keywords: Normalisation comptable; Normes IFRS; OHADA; Référentiel; Révolution comptable

Botswana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Regime - Tshiamo-Kgati, Kuda (University of Pretoria, 2021)
Money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing continue to be serious threats to the stability of the international financial system. The international community therefore has prioritised the fight against these activities. For example, international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and others have developed standards and recommendations against which countries and organisations are measured in this regard. Against this background, this thesis investigates to what extent Botswana’s legislative framework regarding money laundering, terrorism financing and other illicit financial flows complies with international standards, especially the FATF Recommendations. The study sets the scene by defining and describing money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation financing, after which the current statutory framework in Botswana is discussed in detail. After subsequently setting out the various global and regional (specifically African) initiatives in the fight against money laundering and other financial crimes, the current state of affairs in Botswana is benchmarked against both the South African framework as well as the FATF Recommendations. The investigation is limited to a technical assessment (doctrinal analysis) of Botswana law to determine the current compliance (or lack thereof) of the country’s statutory provisions and to make recommendations regarding how the framework can be improved. It is difficult for some countries, especially African countries like Botswana, to comply fully with the FATF Recommendations, since compliance can be expensive and dependent on high levels of expertise on the part of the relevant authorities. Therefore, such more vulnerable countries tend to face a higher risk of being used as conduits for money laundering and related activities. Despite these and other challenges, Botswana has gone to great lengths to re-assess and improve its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation with a view to move towards full compliance with the FATF Recommendations. Nevertheless, the evaluation indicates that there are some remaining shortcomings in Botswana’s legislation. Consequently, the thesis concludes by proffering certain recommendations towards ensuring that Botswana’s AML/CFT legislation is rendered fully compliant with the FATF Recommendations.
URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/82675
Keywords: AML/CFT; Anti-money laundering; Botswana; Financement du terrorisme; Financial law; LBC/FT; Lutte contre blanchiment de capitaux; Money laundering

Challenges and solutions for the harmonisation of contract law within the BRICS countries. Invalidity of contracts and hardship - Veronese, Lígia Espolaor (Universidade de São Paulo, 2021)
The present thesis is concerned with a comparative study of contract law applicable in the BRICS countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa with a strong focus on the issues of invalidity of contracts and hardship. The purpose is to identify commonalities and divergences in these systems with different legal backgrounds, particularly the influence of civil law tradition in Brazil, Russia and China as opposed to common law in India, and the mixed system in South Africa. Among the identified divergences and challenges, the thesis purports to demonstrate that the obstacles are not insuperable and that there are rooms for the harmonisation and compatibility within the BRICS context with respect to the two selected topics of contract law. Even when full harmony is not reached, the research also purports to demonstrate that some countries may benefit from others divergent experiences. Detecting mutual contribution is of particular relevance to this group of countries, since they share the characteristic of being evolving systems which have undergone recent reforms in their legislation on contract law and may be more open to assess and incorporate more efficient contract practices.
Keywords: BRICS; Brazil; Common law vs. Civil law; Comparative law; Contract law; Contribuição; Contribution; Direito comparado; Direito contratual; Hardship; Harmonisation; Harmonização; Invalidade dos contratos; Invalidity of contracts; Russia; South Africa; Validade dos contratos; Validity of contracts

The (Domestic) Enforcement of AU International Economic Law Instruments: Exploring the Desirability of Direct Effect - Simo, Regis Yann (The Emergent African Union Law: Conceptualization, Delimitation, and Application, 2021)
This chapter deals with the principle of direct effect as applied in European Union law and explores its suitability in the enforcement of African Union (AU) legal instruments, notably those setting up the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). What motivates the issue of direct effect is the noted reticence of African countries to litigate trade matters between themselves despite the existence of provisions of regional trade treaties creating courts of justice which give standing to Member States. Therefore, it surveys the avenues through which natural and legal persons can uphold their rights stemming from AfCFTA treaties thus contributing to treaty interpretation and increasing security and predictability. Currently, the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Protocol, modelled after the WTO, does not allow such a possibility, contrary to rights acquired by natural and legal persons before some African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) courts. Nevertheless, this chapter finds that carving out access of natural and legal persons to AfCFTA proceedings may not always work as intended since there are other ways to bypass these obstacles. These loopholes could be the gateway through which direct effect will develop and become a principle of AU law broadly speaking. These gaps further complement this chapter’s suggestions to explore amending the AfCFTA legal instruments, even though its dispute settlement system is yet to be tested, in order to match the standing that natural and legal persons have acquired under the RECs, which, in fine, are building blocs towards achieving the AfCFTA and, eventually, the African Economic Community.
Keywords: AfCFTA; Africa; Direct effect; International Economic Law; International Law; International Trade Law; Regional courts; Regional integration

Soft Law in International Investment Law and Arbitration - Adinolfi, Giovanna (The Italian Review of International and Comparative Law, 2021)
In the more recent decades, international investment law (“iil”) and arbitration have been going through a process of recalibration prompted by both the intensification of cross-border capital flows and the States’ growing concerns over the potential restraints iil may impose upon the pursuit of public interests. The present contribution will pay attention to a specific feature that can be observed within these developments, i.e. the role played by soft law in investment arbitration and, more generally, under iil, also with a view to assessing the impact on the formation of binding international law of instruments formally devoid of normative force within the international legal order. After an introduction (Section 1), the contribution is articulated into four sections. Section 2 will first define the field of investigation. The case law of investment tribunals and the treaty practice under the more recent iia s will be then explored as to the reliance on soft law instruments for the purposes of settling procedural (Section 3) and substantive issues (Section 4). Some final remarks will close (Section 5).

Arbitration as a Legal Mechanism in the Settlement of Disputes under Cameroonian Law - Tambe, Hans; Forbi, Nduah Esther; Epie, Mousinga Adele (Social Science Research Network, 2021)
Recently, commercial activities in the state of Cameroon are evolving and there is an inflow of investors from within the OHADA Zone and other regions of the world to Cameroon. This has led to the proliferation of commercial contracts such as concession contracts, production sharing agreements, risk contracts between the Republic of Cameroon and foreign investors, or contracts between individuals of foreign countries as well as with Cameroonian nationals. Commonly, contracts may be breached and disagreements surface among the contracting parties. The difficulties pose is in the manner to settle such disagreements in a friendly manner to maintain the relationship between the parties and to enables the contracting parties to resolve the disputes more cost-effectively and increase business efficiency in Cameroon. However, the state of Cameroon has a favorable attitude towards bilateral and multilateral investment treaties to guarantee protection to investors in the territory. This elucidates the reason why the government of Cameroon has enacted laws and ratified regional and international treaties, aimed at safeguarding a smooth atmosphere for investors and other commercial traders particularly in the domain of arbitration to help in resolving disputes in case of any disagreement among contracting parties. This article will present the authorities involved in arbitration with the experience regarding the application of the various law and institutions concerned with the arbitration. This will also help contracting parties or investors to understand the legal mechanisms in the settlement of disputes through arbitration in Cameroon.
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; dispute; legal; mechanism; settlement

Legal Guide on Agricultural Land Investment Contracts - UNIDROIT; IFAD (UNIDROIT/IFAD, 2021)

Firm Performance, Financial Constraints, and Dual-Class Share Structure - Ahamed, Fatematuz Tamanna (Victoria University of Wellington, 2021)
This thesis addresses two aspects of financial constraints focusing, firstly, on the impact of financial constraints on firm performance and, secondly, on the impact of dual-class share structure on financial constraints. The first issue has been addressed in a large number of research studies, but the results are mixed. This study, therefore, conducts a meta-analysis of those earlier studies to provide a summary view of the results which, in contrast to narrative reviews of the empirical literature, provides an objective overview. The second issue examines the impact of dual-class share structures on financial constraints. The period of the global financial crisis is used to test the impact of the state of the economy on that relationship. To examine the impact of financial constraints on firm performance, 26 empirical studies with 189 effect sizes representing listed firms have been analysed. The study finds that overall there is a positive relationship between financial constraints and firm performance. The study also shows that the set of market-based measures of firm performance has a significant negative impact on the relationship, compared with the set of accounting-based measures. In terms of the financial constraints measure, the set of external financial constraints measures have a positive and highly significant impact on the relationship. The meta-regression analysis suggests that the choice of measure, regional difference, journal quality and publication status all have a significant impact on the relationship, and explain the variation in the association. To examine the impact of dual-class share structures on financial constraints the study analyses a sample of non-financial US firms over the period 2002-2018. Share structure is measured by the existence of a dual-class structure and also by excess voting rights and the proximity of the superior class shareholders in such structures. The study also shows that if financial constraints are measured by the WW index, irrespective of how dual-class share structure is measured, it increases the level of financial constraints. Similar results are obtained where financial constraints are measured by the KZ and SA indexes, except where dual-class share structure is measured by the proximity of superior class shareholders. The study also finds that if financial constraints are measured by the WW index, dual-class had a reduced impact during the period of the global financial crisis, thus, providing support for the propping theory. However, if financial constraint is measured by the SA index, dual-class share structure appears to have an increased impact during the GFC years. Among the additional tests, the HM index has been used as a measure of financial constraints, and the findings show that the impact of dual-class structures on financial constraints appears to be driven by their effect on debt constraints. The study also shows that firm age moderates the impact of dual-class share structures if financial constraints are measured by the WW index. The KZ, WW, and SA indexes are based on firm characteristics and, therefore, the study also tests for an impact of dual-class structures when financial constraint is measured by a text-based index, the BLM index. However, the results do not provide evidence of an impact in that case.
Keywords: Dual-class share structure; Financial Accounting; Financial Constraints; Firm Performannce; Meta analysis

Comparison of Egyptian and English Mediation Procedures in Construction - Swelam, Ahmed; Eldosouky, Adel Ibrahim; El Korany, Tamer Mostafa (Journal of Engineering Research, 2021)
The mediation process is the parties' will to the dispute to reach an amicable, non-binding settlement to end their dispute. The Egyptian legislature adopted the idea of issuing a draft law on mediation in civil and commercial matters to settle disputes between the parties, whether before the litigation stage or after appearing before the courts. The Egyptian Ministry of Justice held many community dialogue sessions to find the final version of the draft law. However, the concerned authorities have not issued the law until writing this paper. This research aims to compare and analyze the Egyptian mediation procedures and the British mediation procedures to improve, develop, and enhance the Egyptian ones especially the draft law as well as overcoming the obstacles that hinder the spread of mediation. On the one hand, presenting the Egyptian procedures in the draft mediation law and the rules of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration, CRCICA. On the other hand, the British procedures represented in the Institute of Civil Engineers' mediation rules, ICE.
Keywords: Egypt; England; Mediation

Big Data and Global Trade Law - Burri, Mira (Cambridge University Press, 2021)
This collection explores the relevance of global trade law for data, big data and cross-border data flows. Contributing authors from different disciplines including law, economics and political science analyze developments at the World Trade Organization and in preferential trade venues by asking what future-oriented models for data governance are available and viable in the area of trade law and policy. The collection paints the broad picture of the interaction between digital technologies and trade regulation as well as provides in-depth analyses of critical to the data-driven economy issues, such as privacy and AI, and different countries' perspectives. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Keywords: AI; Artificial Intelligence; Big data; Blockchains (Databases); Data protection––Law and legislation; Foreign trade regulation; Inteligência artificial; Intelligence Artificielle; Law and legislation; Transborder data flow––Law and legislation.; World Trade Organization

The inclusion and assessment of climate related and environmental related risks in the banking industry: the UniCredit case. - Gioia, Giovanni Luigi (LUISS Guido Carli, 2021)
The nexus between climate-related risks and financial risk. From nuclear to climate apocalypse. The turning point: Paris agreement and UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The VUCA world. The European Union as pioneer of ESG revolution. Climate-related risks in the banking sector. The EBA framework of ESG risk for financial institutions. The principles for responsible banking. Environmental-related risk assessment. The mispricing of the environmental-related risks. The environmental-related disclosure as a risk mitigation tool. How do UniCredit assess, monitor and mitigate climaterelated risks. UniCredit’s financial risk management framework. Comparison with KPMG benchmark.

Post award arbitral tribunal's mandate under the UNCITRAL Model Law and national laws based thereon - Al Hyari, Omar Hisham; Al Ani, Abdullah Rabee (Heliyon, 2021)
The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration provides for the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal post issuance of the final award for the issuance of correction, interpretation, additional award, and remittance of the award back to the arbitral tribunal to remove grounds for challenging the award. Using a doctrinal approach, this paper examines the deviations of the national laws of adopting jurisdictions from the Model Law in regards to this extended mandate, and evaluates the improvements and drawbacks in these deviations. Mainly, the findings of this paper are that, of the many deviations, the positive changes are those that provide comfortable and lenient default provisions for the benefit of inexperienced parties, and since correction, interpretation, additional award, and remittance are useful provisions that are designed to help self-rectify the arbitral process, without adversely delaying it, then the changes that increase the efficacy of these provisions are welcomed. On the other hand, unnecessary deviations are seen as drawbacks that hinder the harmonization of national arbitration laws aimed at by the Model Law. The adopting jurisdictions shall be limited to those acknowledged as such by the UNCITRAL.
Keywords: Additional award; Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Arbitrators' mandate; Award; Correction; Interpretation; Model Law jurisdictions; UNCITRAL Model Law

Reasonable awareness in compensation for infringement of IP rights - Vanbrabant, Bernard; Glorieux, Dietger (Revue de Droit Intellectuel. L'Ingenieur-Conseil, 2021)

Value Relevance of Integrated Reporting using a Novel Approach: Comparative Cross Country Evidence of Mandatory and Voluntary Implementers - Mohaimen, F. J. (Victoria University of Wellington, 2021)
This thesis examines the value relevance of accounting information under integrated reporting (IR) in a comparative mandatory and voluntary setting. A meta review is conducted of all published work focusing on integrated reporting since 2011, which provides detailed insight into the gaps in the IR literature. Multiplicative log-linear model is used in measurement, which is a novel technique that mitigates the shortcomings of traditional value relevance models. The findings show that value relevance of summary accounting information increases after the implementation of IR in the mandatory setting. In the voluntary setting, market effect and the existing reporting paradigm effect the value relevance of accounting information under IR. If the market is large and existing reporting requirements are robust voluntary adoption of IR has minimal to no effect. However, in smaller markets with less rigorous reporting environment, adoption of IR does result in increased value relevance of accounting information. Compared to traditional models, the multiplicative model provides estimates that are more stable over time and shows better explanatory power. Overall, the findings of this thesis show that capital providers value the information content of IR under specific circumstances. This thesis contributes to the IR and value relevance literature by providing the first comparative cross-country evidence of the effect of IR in the change in value relevance of reported accounting information. It provides policy relevant input to the standard setters of IR by demonstrating the effect of IR in the decision usefulness of summary accounting information. The thesis further provides robust evidence of the efficacy of using the multiplicative log-linear model in measuring value relevance instead of the traditional linear additive models.

Compensation for Regulatory Expropriation in International Investment Law - Khachvani, David (Université de Genève, 2021)
The States, international organizations and interest groups are increasingly concerned with treaty claims of foreign investors, who sometimes seek compensation for the States' legitimate regulatory measures, such as tobacco plain packaging, nuclear energy phase out and environmental regulations. International investment law has yet to develop a comprehensive and predictable framework addressing some of the basis questions related to compensability of legitimate regulatory measures. The thesis carries out a comparative legal analysis to identify the key features of the prohibition of uncompensated expropriation as a general principle of law, and explores the rationale of that principle in political philosophy. Equipped with the results of this analysis, it proceeds to propose an analytical approach addressing practical questions related to the compensatory protection of foreign investments.
Keywords: Climate Change; Compensation; Expropriation; Investments; Police Powers; Regulatory Powers

Legal Protection of Foreign Direct Investment in the OHADA Area - Ngoya, Dominique (Social Science Research Network, 2021)
This paper analyzes the protection of Foreign Direct Investments in the OHADA area, specifically, its regulation by the Treaty of Organization and Harmonization in Africa of Business Law (OHADA Treaty). It is to restore legal and judicial security within their scope that OHADA member countries have undertaken to harmonize and unify their economic sector legislation to attract foreign investment as a factor in economic development. Several national and international legal instruments are responsible for the protection of foreign direct investment in OHADA countries. Indeed, the volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) to developing countries increased considerably during the 1990s; As Africa is now one of the favorite destinations for Western and even African investors, it is becoming a very profitable continent for investors. However, the issue of regulating or securing foreign investment in African countries is still flawed. The establishment of OHADA, in a way, is in the same direction; if we stick to the purpose of the organization prescribed in paragraph 5 of the preamble to the OHADA Treaty, which states that the purpose of the OHADA law is to "promote the growth of economic activity and encourage investment." Unfortunately, this objective remains only an announcement of the preamble to the Treaty, because of the definition of business law given by Article 2 of that treaty. However, the list of subjects is not exhaustive, investment remains absent. Thus, foreign investment is not regulated by the OHADA Treaty, so even investment-related activities are held by other subjects (corporate law, commercial law, and security law). The omission of FDI in the scope of the OHADA Treaty leads us to raise the question of its regulation.This work proposes a reflection that the OHADA Treaty should be modernized through reform including investment and many other issues to deal effectively with the issue of foreign investment given the ineffectiveness of national and sub-regional instruments in this area.
Keywords: Foreign direct investment; Investment Law; Investment Protection; OHADA

A developing country's perspective on forum shopping and long arm jurisdiction in light of US and UK insolvency laws - Gatoto, Phoebe Njoki (Nottingham Trent University, 2021)
The trend for multinational companies has been a preference to forum shop rather than to open insolvency proceedings in developing countries. The US and the UK are prime venues for such bankruptcy tourism enabled by long-arm jurisdiction through extraneous connection. At the same time, there has been a pattern in developing countries of insolvency law reforms which have been circumvented when multinational companies forum shop. Using doctrinal and comparative methodologies, this thesis examines how forum shopping and long-arm jurisdiction to the US and UK affect the efforts of developing countries to reform their insolvency laws and their possible effects on local stakeholders of multinational companies in developing countries. Additionally, the thesis proposes a longer-term strategy of dealing with forum shopping and long-arm jurisdiction by using the concept of centre of main interests ('COMI') as the basis for opening main insolvency proceedings. To ensure that the proposed insolvency procedural legal law is implemented uniformly, the thesis proposes the creation of a supranational court from which national courts, insolvency practitioners and multinational companies can request clarifications on the provisions of the proposed insolvency procedural legal framework. The thesis identified that developing countries require effective insolvency laws and institutions and highlighted key principles that should be included in the reforms. The hope is that developing countries can improve their insolvency laws and institutions to a global standard. Once the proposed insolvency procedural legal framework is implemented, multinational companies will be encouraged to utilise them once jurisdiction is identified through the COMI test rather than forum shopping.
https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/46506/

La publication des informations sociétales suivant les lois comptables revisées OHADA - Guimezap Épse Choukem, Claire (Revue Française d'Economie et de Gestion, 2021)
Dans un contexte marqué par le développement durable, le législateur OHADA n’a eu de cesse d’être accablé de toutes parts pour son statisme vis-à-vis de la montée des problématiques sociétales. Au lendemain des reformes du système comptable OHADA, les problématiques sociétales ont une fois de plus raté le rendez-vous de la normalisation. Toutefois, de nombreuses entreprises continuent à publier leurs informations sociétales parallèlement à leur communication financière. A cet effet, le problème que soulève cet article est celui de la compréhension des modes de production et de diffusion des informations extra-financières en l’absence d’une réglementation en la matière. Une étude empirique de nature descriptive est menée auprès d’un échantillon de 120 entreprises diffusant leurs informations sociétales au sein de l’espace OHADA. Il en ressort que le site internet et l’implication dans le développement de la communauté locale sont apparue respectivement comme support et thème de diffusion les plus utilisés dans l’espace OHADA en matière de reporting sociétal sous la pression de certaines parties prenantes notamment les associations consuméristes, les départements ministériels en charge de l’environnement, du travail et de la sécurité sociale. In a context marked by a widespread awareness of the needs of sustainable development, the OHADA legislator has been constantly burdened on all sides for its statism to the rise of societal problems. However, After the reform of the OHADA system, sustainability problems once more did not met up with the appointment of normalization. However, several enterprises continue to publish their societal information in parallel with their financial communication. As such, the problem raised by this article is that of understanding the mode of production and disclosure of non-financial information in the absence of a regulatory framework. A descriptive empirical analysis is carried out with a sample of 120 enterprises which propagate their societal information in the OHADA zone. It reveals that internet websites and implication in the development of the local community are respectively the medium and theme of the most used disclosures in the OHADA zone with regards to sustainability reporting under the pressure of some stakeholders especially consumer associations, ministerial departments in charge of the environment labor and social security.
Keywords: Accounting law; CSR; Corporate Social Responsibility; Droit comptable; Information sociétale; Parties-prenantes; RSE; Responsabilité Sociétale de l'Entreprise; Stakeholders

Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance and Banking Performance in the CEMAC Region - Fondem, Divine (Liberty University, 2021)
This researcher examined the effect of corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on banking performance in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) region. The data was obtained from the Worldwide Governance and the World Bank sovereign database from 2003 to 2018. This study employs the z-score to proxy the CSR factors such as labor force participation rate, population density, and renewable energy. The results reveal that the fixed effects model is superior to the pooled ordinary least square (OLS) and the random-effects model. The findings show that CSR has a significantly positive relationship, while CG has a positive but insignificant relation with banking performance in the CEMAC region. It suggests an ineffective implementation of CG strategies in the entire CEMAC region.
Keywords: Banking Performance; CEMAC; CSR; Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community; Corporate Social Responsibility; Corporate governance; RSE

Legal Challenges in the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Nigeria - Kudirat, Magaji (University of Ilorin, 2021)
Businessmen have a choice in the resolution of disputes, they may elect litigation or submit to arbitration. Delays, outrageous cost and undue technicalities associated with courts, makes commercial arbitration the preferred mode of settlement in the business world. However, the recalcitrance of an award-debtor to comply with the terms of the award necessitates the intervention of the courts. Nigeria has provisions for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards within her legal system. However, reliance on courts for enforcing foreign awards frequently frustrates the gains initially made by arbitration. Enforcement of arbitral awards via the courts has numerous legal challenges. This study is therefore aimed at analysing the challenges facing enforcement of foreign awards in Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: (i) analyse the impact of extant legal regimes on the recognition and enforcement of foreign awards in Nigeria; (ii) examine the effects of the concepts of arbitrability and public policy exceptions on the enforcement of awards in Nigeria; (iii) examine the challenges inherent in judicial review on the enforcement of foreign awards in Nigeria; and (iv) examine the adequacy of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988 (ACA 1988) in the recognition and enforcement of Islamic commercial arbitral awards. The study employed doctrinal methodology of legal research where primary and secondary of legal materials were subjected to descriptive and content analysis. The primary sources used were legislations, regulations, treaties, conventions and case laws, while secondary sources used were texts books, journals, internet materials, conferences and seminars papers. The findings of the study were that: i. the provisions of the laws regulating enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Nigeria, particularly, Sections 51 and 54 of ACA 1988 have inherent and procedural defects, thus preventing the smooth enforcement of the award; ii. the narrow interpretation by the Nigerian courts on ‘arbitrability’ based on Sections 54 and 57 of ACA 1988 which restricts disputes to contractual and commercial disputes only, prevents the enforcement of foreign awards from jurisdictions with liberal interpretation. iii. the amorphous nature of the scope of public policy creates a challenge for the courts in Nigeria in determining whether a foreign award violates the country’s public policy or not; iv. the powers of the courts to set aside foreign awards based on grounds contained in Sections 29, 30 and 48 ACA 1988 are open-ended and allow the courts to examine the merit of the disputes rather than limit themselves to the validity of the award for enforcement; v. the provisions of ACA 1988 on enforcement of foreign arbitral awards do not consider the idiosyncrasies of awards from Islamic law jurisdictions, despite growing investors’ interests in Islamic commercial transactions. The study concluded that it is obvious that the various legal challenges identified showed that the existing legal frameworks on enforcement of foreign arbitral award in Nigeria are weak and ineffective. The study therefore recommended that the Nigerian arbitral laws in particular, the provisions on enforcement of arbitral awards under ACA 1988 should be amended.
Keywords: Enforcement; Foreign Arbitral Awards; Legal Challenges; Nigeria

The Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Dispute Settlement of Logistics Activities - Quan, Gao (International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 2021)
The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provides a non-litigation settlement mechanism for the parties of logistics activities. The advantages of ADR are highlighted in logistics dispute resolution due to the characteristics of logistics dispute and the difficulties faced in the litigation procedure. In the dispute resolution process, ADR means a simple, cost-efficient, and convenient method for the parties involved to settle disputes quickly, flexibly, and friendly. With its legitimacy and rationality, ADR should be the preferred choice for the parties involved in logistics dispute resolution.
Keywords: ADR; Alternative dispute resolution; Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Dispute settlement; Litigation procedure; Logistics activities; MARD; Mediación; Mediation; Mediação; Médiation

The legal nature of debt securities in South African law - Beer, Johan Philip de (Stellenbosch University, 2021)
The problem statement of this thesis is ascertaining the legal nature of debt securities in furtherance of a consistent and coherent legal description of the South African positive law as it relates to this class of instruments. It focuses on four core issues: the legal history, legal nature, classification, and current legal issues relating to debt securities. Historical and analytic-systemic approaches to the problem statement make up Part 1 of the study. The historical approach shows an emergent commoditisation of debt, which is an important phenomenon in the analysis of securities law. It further shows a great deal of English influence in the development of the South African legal environment, most notably in terms of company law (as the primary driver of securities law) and the financial marketplace, its institutions and its regulation. Also highlighted is a notable scarcity of debt securities relative to equities, which materially impacted legislative developments. Finally, it points to an increase in the legal importance of the “securities” concept as a legal term to describe and govern debt and equity securities. Thereafter the analytic-systemic approach is used to identify a set of private law-rooted first principles applicable to South African registered securities, and herefore to debt securities as well. It posits that these securities should be understood conceptually as comprised two interdependent but functionally separate legal objects, rather than in terms of two different kinds of ownership (i.e. beneficial and registered). The first object is the "security instrument”, a locus for (holdership of) the incidents that flow from the entitlement of determination (beskikkingsbevoegdheid) over the underlying complex of rights and competencies of registered securities. These can be understood as incidents of execution. The second is the "security asset”, a locus for (holdership of) the incidents that flow from the entitlement of enjoyment (genotsbevoegdheid) over that underlying complex, and corresponds with the proprietary, patrimonial dimension of securities. These can be understood as incidents of enjoyment. This construction enables a more coherent understanding of the sui generis relationship of agency between beneficial owner and her nominee, as well as of the dynamics of ownership and quasi-possessio. These insights are then applied to the uncertificated environment, addressing a number of difficult and uncertain problems within the system that enables uncertificated securities and their holdership. Finally the particularly difficult issue of how to classify (and therefore identify) debt securities is dealt with. Here it is concluded that a typological approach is the only viable methodology to deal with this problem, and a number of necessary and thereafter possible classificatory indicia are outlined for this purpose. The functional-policy approach makes up Part 2 of the study. It is a policy-aware application of the theoretical framework developed to a select number of themes and legal issues of the current environment. Principally it shows that the reconceptualisation of registered securities has explanatory and problem-solving value, specifically relating to transfer, the granting of limited real interests, good faith acquisition, and the protection of holdership of certificated and uncertificated securities.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110018
Keywords: Beneficial ownership; Debt and equity Securities; Securities; Securities industry; South Africa; Titre de créance

Mediation: Is There a More Promising Future? The Case of the Cairo Business Community - Soliman, Cherine (Arab Journal of Administration, 2021)
In an era of economic distress, some organizations have found refuge and growth potential in cooperation. Mediation, a highly recommended cooperative concept, has been enabled in certain countries but not all. Some applications lacked local cultural support making it, despite government efforts, a failure to launch. In this article, we investigate attempts to launch mediation in the Cairo Business Community (CBC). This study enabled us to revisit how Egyptian culture was prototyped by Hofstede and to question its representativeness. Hofstede has consistently described Egyptian culture as being highly cooperative / collectivist but our observations indicate that this culture is now more of an individualistic / competitive type, due to the tremendous economic difficulties that Egyptian society is going through. These difficulties and their impact on culture are at the heart of the explanation of the failure to launch mediation in the CBC.
Keywords: Cairo Business Society; Conflict Resolution; Culture; Egypt; Mediation

Combating insolvency and business recovery problems in the oil industry: proposal for improvement in Nigeria's insolvency and bankruptcy legal framework - Olujobi, Olusola Joshua (Heliyon, 2021)
Insolvency and business recovery laws in Nigeria have not evolved to incorporate reorganisation, reforming insolvent oil firms' operations to boost commercial oil firms' steadiness and economic suitability like other moderately developed countries. In Nigeria, liquidation is understood by many as the panacea to indebtedness. The research evaluates the Nigerian insolvency and business recovery legal regime to sustain indebted oil firms from economic shocks due to the global decline in the oil price to avert imminent business failures due to insufficient cash flows. The aim is to fill the gaps in Nigeria's insolvency and business recovery laws by recommending a model for the sustenance of oil firms and to suggest the reform of the gaps identified in the existing laws and the extant literature on the subject. The paper opted for conceptual legal review, comparative legal and policies analyses of solvency and business recovery legislations in Nigeria, Malaysia, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. These nations were designated for this study because their insolvency and business recovery legal regime are business rescued driven, not winding up centred. The study is library research-based to address some of the flaws in Nigeria's insolvency and business recovery laws. The study finds that Nigerian legislation on insolvency is flawed in oil firms' salvage, improvement and rearrangement. It ends that, statutory bodies in the designated case study nations are efficient than those in Nigeria due to the strong political will of their governments in supporting insolvent oil firms for successful financial recovery, to safeguard jobs, to protect creditors and to enhance the wealth of their nations through sound business recovery policies and laws. The study, advocates, remodel of Nigeria's insolvency and business recovery legislations and policies in compliance with the international standards on insolvent oil firms salvaged and creditors focused policies for a robust economy. The study concludes with the recommendation for further study to consider quantitative analysis research methodology to project further scholarship on the subject.
Keywords: Creditor; Insolvency and business recovery laws; Nigeria; Oil firms

The impact of multilateral trade agreements on intra-regional trade : the case of SADC and ECOWAS - Osarumwense, Uwakata Yvonne (University of South Africa, 2021)
This study examines the comparative impact of multilateral trade agreements on intra-regional trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regions in Africa. Annual data was gathered from 2000 to 2018 and dynamic panel data and econometric techniques were used to control for individual country characteristics, endogeneity, serial correlation, heteroscedasticity and interdependencies between the countries in each region. Two estimations were done, one using the tariff measures of multilateral agreements, the second using non-tariff measures of multilateral agreement. The results of the empirical analysis show that the SADC region has a slight edge over ECOWAS in terms of technological progress and investment, especially in trade infrastructure. However, the ECOWAS levels of employment and economic growth are higher than those in the SADC region. These differences further translate into differences that drive intra-African trade in these regions, and how they relate to the role of multilateral agreements in intra-African trade in each of these regions. While technology and investment are key drivers and enhancers of intra-African trade in SADC countries, economic growth and employment stand out as key enhancers of intra-African trade in ECOWAS, especially where multilateral agreement is represented by tariff measures. This study reports that when non-tariff measures are used to represent multilateral agreements, export trade costs, in addition to investment and technology, are the key drivers of intra-African trade in SADC countries. For ECOWAS, under non-tariff measures of multilateral agreements, only economic growth drives intra-African trade.
Keywords: Commercial treaties; Customs unions; Institutional environment; Intra-African trade; Investments; Multilateral agreement; Panel data estimation; Tariff and non-tariff trade barriers

The Impact of Trade Openness and Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Welfare in sub-Saharan Africa - Adegboye, Folasade Bosede; Adesina, Olumide Sunday; Olokoyo, Felicia Omowunmi; Ojeka, Stephen Aanu; Akinjare, Victoria Abosede (International Journal of Financial Research, 2021)
The sub-Saharan African region is characterized by a high relative degree of openness to trade. The region is also identified with increased inflows of foreign investments with no significant welfare improvement. Economic development emphasizes that the lack of domestic investment in the developing economies could be boosted by trade openness and inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for impactful enhancement of capital formation. In this article, the impact of trade openness and foreign capital inflow on economic welfare was examined on a sub-regional analysis for sub-Saharan Africa. The study also appraised the effect of openness to trade and FDI inflow on the region's economic welfare. The data for 30 countries from 2000 to 2018 were collected and analyzed, with the Generalized Least Square (GLS) technique to fit the model developed. The study showed that openness to trade has a significant impact on economic welfare for all sub-Saharan Africa regions, while FDI is only significant for the Western sub-region. Hence, the study recommends that the government of the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region should boost trade openness to enhance efficiency in productivity, and improve industrial development.
Number: 2
Keywords: Economic Welfare; Foreign direct investment; Sub-Saharan Africa; generalized least square; sub-regional analysis; trade openness

The influence of capital structure and profitability on the solvency of nascent SMEs - Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari (University of Johannesburg, 2021)
Even though small and medium enterprises contribute significantly to the growth of national economies, they are vulnerable in their early stages and may fail. Hence younger businesses are more likely to fail than more established ones because they face complex challenges that may limit their viability. This is a notion established in the liability of newness framework. According to the liability of newness concept, the precarious existence of emerging organisations is due to difficulties in managing relationships among strangers, not quickly assembling resources, and not coping with difficult environments, among other issues. All these elements notwithstanding, previous literature suggests that small businesses can, and sometimes do engage in techniques or approaches to help reduce the liability of newness, such as raising adequate capital. This study suggests that not only is adequate capital important but that the right mix of capital also results in higher solvency, thereby mitigating the liability of newness. Because the various funding forms have distinct advantages and disadvantages, an appropriate capital structure reduces the cost of financing while increasing the value of the firm. This study also advances the idea that profitable businesses are productive and financially strong, and thus nascent enterprises with high profitability can minimise the liability of newness. As a result, the study sought to examine the influence of capital structure and profitability on the solvency of nascent small and medium enterprises. To put the study's hypotheses to the test, 1106 nascent small and medium enterprises that are registered with the National Board for Small Scale Industries were sampled across three major cities in Ghana. Thus, data was gathered from every member of the population. Such data, gathered from the SMEs' financial statements, was submitted to preliminary screening as well as a number of statistical measurements. Operationally, the dependent variable, solvency, was defined as the solvency ratio, working capital ratio, and net worth. As a result, three distinct regression models were developed for robustness. The study's findings broadly indicate that capital structure and profitability have an influence on the solvency of nascent small and medium enterprises. The study also determined that emerging small and medium enterprises should follow the principles of the pecking order theory to reduce the liability of newness. These findings, if adopted by SME owners, can aid in the maturation of their fledgling businesses.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship; New business enterprises

Proceedings of 2021 UNCITRAL Working Group III inter-sessional meeting: the use of mediation in ISDS - Asian Academy of International Law Limited (AAIL) (Asian Academy of International Law Limited, 2021)
Contents: Opening remarks by Li Yongjie and Anna Joubin-Bret – Session 1: Presentation by the UNCITRAL Secretariat of the initial drafts on mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as possible reform option / C. Montineri, J. Knieper, J. S. Lee, p. 13-78 – Session 2: Sharing of views and experiences of international organisations, p. 79-117 – Session 3: Practical workshop: the use of mediation in ISDS - overcoming barriers and capacity building, p. 125-206 – Session 4: Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on ISDS reform submitted by the People's Republic of China, p. 215-232
Keywords: Dispute settlement; Investment disputes; MARD; Mediación; Mediation; Mediação; Médiation; UN Commission on International Trade Law; UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements resulting from Mediation (2018)

Securities regulation, enforcement and market integration in the development of sub-Saharan Africa's capital markets - Aziza, Onoriode Reginald (University of Oxford, 2021)
This thesis examines securities market development in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on securities law, securities law enforcement and securities markets integration. Adopting a primarily comparative methodology, the thesis examines the continued relevance of securities markets in sub-Saharan Africa; the way selected countries in the region regulate their markets and enforce compliance with securities law; and the potential of market integration to promote market development. This thesis advances 4 main claims. First, empirical evidence supports the link between liquid securities markets and economic growth, independent of the level of banking development. In this sense, securities markets can act as good complements to banks in providing capital to the real economy. Second, at the minimum, there is an arguable preliminary case that rules of securities regulation can hinder market development in select countries in sub-Saharan Africa, by imposing high compliance costs and eligibility requirements, without commensurate benefits in greater liquidity or reduced cost of capital. Third, enforcement of securities regulation in sub-Saharan Africa is generally weak. Whilst public regulators often have formal powers, budgets and staff; actual enforcement activity is sometimes limited by inadequate market monitoring and reliance on criminal as opposed to administrative sanctions. Poor public enforcement, in turn, reinforces poor private enforcement, leading to reduced market participation, illiquidity, and ultimately market underdevelopment. Fourth, although increased market integration can go a long way in facilitating market development in the region, integration cannot be a short/medium term solution to market underdevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa, given the significant economic, political and socio-cultural barriers to integration initiatives in the region. Ultimately, to develop their securities markets, policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa must focus their attention on making and credibly enforcing market-friendly rules of securities regulation. The thesis explores some ways this may be realistically accomplished.
Keywords: Africa; Capital Markets; Capital market; Developing countries; Fintech; Going public (Securities); Market Integration; Securities; Securities Law; Securities Law Enforcement; Sub-Saharan Africa

A constitutional analysis of a differentiated tax treatment of residents and non-residents in respect of income deriving from immovable property in South Africa - Baines, Daniel (University of Pretoria, 2021)
A constitutional analysis of a differentiated tax treatment of residents and non-residents in respect of income deriving from immovable property in South Africa', Daniel Baines explores whether South African resident taxpayers' constitutional rights to equality and property are infringed by current laws which tax residents at higher rates than non-residents on rental income and proceeds from the disposal of fixed property. He aptly sets out what the right to equality and property entails and how these relate to taxpayers. He finds that the higher effective tax rates paid by residents violates their constitutional right to equality. The thesis provides valuable insight into a resident's right to equality and property in terms of current tax rates and illustrates how current tax rates are unconstitutional. The recommendations brought forward contribute toward the discussion of how tax rates should be altered in order to ensure that residents' constitutional rights are no longer violated.
URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/82750
Keywords: Immovable property; Income tax; South Africa; Tax treatment

A critical analysis of the effect of the moratorium on property owners - Beekarun, Yasthil (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2021)
No abstract provided.
Keywords: Business rescue

Legal Translaboration for Effective Intercultural Communication - Bell Mandeng, Adrien (Scientific Annals of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 2021)
The European-inspired bilingualism and bi-legal system in Cameroon lead to an irregular profile and may be interesting for the European Union (EU) in its quest for preservation of intercultural processes through translation. The Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) of which Cameroon is part is only affiliated to Civil Law. However, the two legal systems employed in Cameroon (where both Civil Law and Common Law are used) are based on a balance in what concerns the conceptual, epistemic and stylistic representation. Intercultural dysfunction is the consequence of the lack of methodology in legal translation. Collaboration between legal translators and practitioners is key to adopt an agreed-upon model in multilingualism.
Keywords: Culture; History; Intercultural communication; Legal translaboration; OHADA

The arbitration of internal trust disputes in English law: Legal challenges and pathways - Clover Alcolea, Lucas (McGill University, 2021)
The arbitration of internal trust disputes has attracted significant attention in the arbitration and trust law communities in recent years with draft clauses and rules produced by arbitral institutions, several states undertaking legislative reform in order to provide such arbitrations with a statutory basis and numerous scholars as well as practitioners writing articles on the subject. Such enthusiasm is justified on the basis that arbitration has several advantages over litigation, such as confidentiality, international enforceability of judgments, the ability to choose one’s judge and the power to tailor the procedure. Notwithstanding these advantages, trust arbitration has failed to make any great inroad into trust disputes due to the many novel and complex points of legal practice and theory which it entails. For example, although arbitration does not typically involve minors or legally incapable parties’ trusts do, and thus trust arbitration raises numerous due process and human rights concerns. Similarly, court supervision and enforcement of trusts is sometimes considered essential to the very nature of trusts and questions therefore arise concerning the extent to which arbitral tribunals could supplant courts in that regard. Another complication is that trusts are not contracts and questions therefore arise about how to bind individuals to a trust arbitration agreement, particularly as regards beneficiaries who may be unascertained, minor or legally incompetent at the time the trust was created. The aim of this thesis is to analyse and present potential solutions to these complications from an English law perspective, although other common law legal systems will be analysed where relevant
Identifier: https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/x346d9718
Keywords: Arbitrage; Arbitragem; Arbitration; Internal trust disputes

Optimising regulatory responses to consumer disempowerment over personal data in the digital world - D'Amico, Alessia (European University Institute, 2021)
This thesis addresses the problem of individuals’ lack of control over personal data in the digital world. It sheds light on market and regulatory failures that lie behind the status quo and proposes a framework to improve regulatory responses. The two regulatory regimes that are at the core of this thesis are EU data protection regulation, which protects individuals’ fundamental rights over data, and EU competition law, which safeguards the sound functioning of the market and consumers’ economic interests. Despite the existence of these two regulatory regimes, individuals do not have sufficient control over personal data collected by digital firms, whose control over large datasets is a factor contributing to market monopolisation. The thesis argues that one reason for the shortcomings of today’s regulatory framework is that the market failure is composed of a combination of factors, which are currently addressed by the different regimes relatively independently. This dichotomy hinders the development of an effective strategy to tackle the market failure in its entirety. The approach taken in this thesis is that by integrating the two regimes, it might be possible to close the gaps deriving from a narrow perception of their regulatory spaces. Hence, the thesis formulates a holistic approach, encompassing data protection regulation and competition law, designed to increase the effectiveness of the regulatory framework as a whole. Different dimensions of the regimes’ interrelation are analysed, to uncover new ways to harness their complementarity and minimise their inconsistencies and overlaps. The thesis looks at how the regimes can incorporate elements from each other to inform their policies and application of their rules, as well as developing a complementary enforcement strategy. The holistic framework ultimately allows both regimes to better tailor their regulatory responses to the functioning of the digital market and take account of the diverse elements that constitute the market failure they seek to correct.
Accepted: 2021-07-07T10:12:30Z
Keywords: Data Protection; Personal data; Privacy

A comparative analysis between the Turkish Financial Reporting Standard for large and medium-sized entities and the OHADA accounting system - Diallo, Amadou Thierno (Sakarya Üniversitesi, 2021)
The rapidly growing bilateral and multilateral economic relationship between Turkey and African countries leads to the necessity of understanding each other's business and financial environment. Therefore, the accounting system as a fundamental tool for organizing and disseminating financial information should be accessible and understood by business actors and other stakeholders in these areas. Furthermore, the lack of study related to this subject has led us to carry out this comparative analysis between the two accounting systems by comparing financial statements prepared under each one and analyzing their main similarities and differences. The main purpose of this study is to highlight major differences and similarities between the SYSCOHADA and the FRS for LMSE. Also, the study is aimed to get a good understanding of both accounting sets and help practitioners and businessmen, and women operating in these places to have a good knowledge of the accounting regulations related to each country. On a topic basis and based on financial statements prepared following the SYSCOHADA rules and restated to be adapted to the FRS for LMSE, all main differences and similarities were thoroughly analyzed. Following the case study and the thematical analysis of different accounting topics, it can be understood that the two accounting sets differ to some extent due to philosophical approach on some topics such as the prudence principle where the SYSCOHADA, contrary to the FRS for LMSE, does not allow the recognition of potential profit resulting from currency translation gains related to receivable and payables until such profit becomes certain. However, these two sets also share some major similarities due to their proximity in some way to the IAS/IFRS. The effect of the main differences between the two sets can be noticed in the restated financial statements. The annual net income following the FRS for LMSE increased compared to the initial annual net income in the SYSCOHADA. Also, total assets and liabilities restated following the FRS for LMSE have decreased compared to the SYSCOHADA financial statements. Türkiye ile Afrika ülkeleri arasında hızla büyüyen ikili ve çok taraflı ekonomik ilişkiler, birbirlerinin iş ve finans ortamını anlama zorunluluğunu doğurmaktadır. Bu nedenle, finansal bilgilerin düzenlenmesi ve yayılması için temel bir araç olarak muhasebe sistemi, bu alanlardaki iş aktörleri ve diğer paydaşlar tarafından erişilebilir ve anlaşılabilir olmalıdır. Ayrıca bu konuyla ilgili çalışma eksikliği, iki muhasebe sistemi arasında bu karşılaştırmalı analizi, her biri altında hazırlanan finansal tabloları karşılaştırarak ve temel benzerlik ve farklılıklarını analiz ederek yapmaya yöneltmiştir. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, SYSCOHADA ve BOBİ FRS arasındaki önemli farklılıkları ve benzerlikleri vurgulamaktır. Ayrıca, çalışma hem muhasebe standartları iyi anlamak hem de uygulayıcılara ve bu yerlerde faaliyet gösteren iş adamlarına her bir ülkeyle ilgili muhasebe düzenlemeleri hakkında iyi bilgi sahibi olmalarına yardımcı olmayı amaçlamaktadır. Konu bazında ve SYSCOHADA kurallarına göre hazırlanmış ve BOBİ FRS' ye uyarlanmak üzere yeniden düzenlenen mali tablolara dayalı olarak, tüm temel farklılıklar ve benzerlikler kapsamlı bir şekilde analiz edilmiştir. Vaka çalışması ve farklı muhasebe konularının tematik analizi sonucunda, iki muhasebe setinin bir ölçüde felsefi yaklaşım nedeniyle ihtiyat ilkesi gibi bazı konularda farklılık gösterdiğini anlaşılmaktadır. SYSCOHADA, BOBİ FRS'nin aksine alacak ve borçlara ilişkin kur farkı kazançları kaynaklanan potansiyel kârın kesinleşene kadar muhasebeleştirilmesine izin vermemektedir. Bununla birlikte, bu iki muhasebe seti, UFRS/UMS'ye bir şekilde yakın olmaları nedeniyle bazı önemli benzerlikleri de paylaşmaktadırlar. İki sistemin temel farkların etkisi, yeniden düzenlenen mali tablolarda fark edilebilir. BOBİ FRS'yi takiben yıllık net gelir, SYSCOHADA'daki yıllık net gelire kıyasla artmıştır. Ayrıca, BOBİ FRS'yi takiben yeniden düzenlenen toplam varlıklar ve yükümlülükler, SYSCOHADA finansal tablolarına kıyasla azalmıştır.
Keywords: Accounting standards; Accounting systems; Büyük ve orta boy işletmeler için finansal raporlama standardı; Comparative analysis; Financial reporting standard for large and medium size enterprises; Financial reporting standards; Finansal raporlama standartları; Karşılaştırmalı analiz; Muhasebe sistemleri; Muhasebe standartları; Turkish Financial Reporting Standards; Türkiye Finansal Raporlama Standardı

Transition from Local Accounting Standards to International Accounting Standards: A Comparison Between the OHADA Member Countries and Turkey - Diallo, Amadou Thierno; Çevi̇K, Zülküf (Yorum Yönetim Yöntem Uluslararası Yönetim Ekonomi ve Felsefe Dergisi, 2021)
This study tries to get a clear grasp of the factors that might play positively or negatively in a country’s convergence or adoption of the international financial reporting standards (IFRS). Through a comparative analysis between Turkey and the OHADA countries and based on the existing literature, the transition process towards the IFRS and challenges faced by each one is discussed from a historical perspective to the level of development. As a result, it is understood that the adoption or convergence towards the IFRS can be a challenging and a long-term process requiring multiple adjustments. Also, countries may differ in terms of historical past, level of development, cultural and socio-economic aspects which can all influence their transition. In addition, given the lack of study on the new adoption of the IFRS in the OHADA countries, this paper will contribute to filling the gap in the literature on the transition process. Furthermore, it will help countries which are in their early stage of the transition process to avoid some missteps and learn from others experience to get better prepared for a successful shift towards a fully IFRS compatible accounting system as has done Turkey. Bu çalışma, bir ülkenin uluslararası finansal raporlama standartlarına (IFRS) yakınsaması veya tam olarak benimsemesinde olumlu veya olumsuz rol oynayabilecek faktörleri tespit etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Türkiye ile OHADA ülkeleri arasında karşılaştırmalı bir analiz yoluyla ve mevcut literatüre dayalı olarak, UFRS'e geçiş süreci ve bu süreçte karşılaşılan zorluklar, tarihsel bir perspektiften tartışılmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, IFRS’in benimsenmesi veya uyumlaştırılmasının zorlu ve birçok ayarlama gerektiren uzun vadeli bir süreç olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Üstelik bu güçlükler, ülkelerin geçişlerini etkileyebilecek, tarihsel geçmiş, gelişmişlik düzeyi, kültürel ve sosyo-ekonomik yönler açısından farklılık gösterebilir. Buna ek olarak, OHADA ülkelerinde IFRS'in yeni benimsenmesine ilişkin çalışma eksikliği göz önüne alındığında, bu makale geçiş süreciyle ilgili literatürdeki boşluğun doldurulmasına katkıda bulunacaktır. Ayrıca, geçiş sürecinin erken aşamalarında olan ülkelere bazı yanlış adımlardan kaçınmalarına ve diğerlerinin deneyimlerinden öğrenerek, Türkiye'de olduğu gibi tamamen IFRS uyumlu bir muhasebe sistemine başarılı bir geçiş için daha iyi hazırlanmalarına yardımcı olacaktır.
Keywords: Accounting standards; Approche comparée; Comparison; Comptabilité; International Accounting Standards; Local Accounting Standard

Cryptocurrencies in an insolvent estate - Du Plessis, Shandi (University of Johannesburg, 2021)
Please refer to full text to view abstract. LL.M. (Commercial Law)