Economists, legal thinkers, and policymakers generally agree that certain kinds of market-focused legal reforms are important drivers of economic growth and are key tools for reducing poverty. As a result, developing countries around the world are encouraged to adopt institutions that protect property rights, enforce contract protections, and adjudicate disputes in formalized, state-controlled settings.

The purpose of the Rule of Non-Law Project is to question these widely held assumptions. We start from the observation that some of the fastest-growing economies—many of which are also at the forefront of poverty reduction—seem to be advancing without having conducted any serious legal reforms. We explore the kinds of substitute mechanisms that actors use in societies like these to make their markets efficient. We also consider the conditions under which certain actors are able to take advantage of less-efficient markets in ways that lead to stronger growth and less poverty.

We operate an active teaching and research agenda within the Rule of Non-Law Project. We welcome research project proposals from Stanford students and faculty.