"International economic law" is an increasingly seminal field of international law that involves the regulation and conduct of states, international organizations, and private firms operating in the international economic arena. As such, international economic law encompasses a broad range of disciplines touching on public international law,private international law, and domestic law applicable to international business transactions.
For several decades, international economic law was most often associated with international trade, largely due to the fact that trade had developed the most mature multilateral legal institutions (e.g. the GATT and later WTO) for governing international commerce. Today, however, a range of disciplines are routinely acknowledged as being as impactful and relevant to the field, including:
Because of the breadth of international economic activities and transactions, international economic law is a highly interdisciplinary field of study. Decisions in one area, such as tax or financial regulation, can impact the transmission of monetary policy, which can, in turn, impact the effectiveness or operation of a trade regime, and vice versa. Consequently, a wide range of notable governmental and intergovernmental organizations are involved in formulating international economic law and policy. Among the most important are:
Following research popularized in the 1990s by scholars in international law, political science, international relations, and commercial law, academic institutions have become increasingly engaged in the study of the international economic law. Among the most notable are:
Additionally, a number of think tanks and not-for-profit organizations contribute to scholarship on international economic law, including: