Kenneth W. Dam

"An increasingly popular view holds that institutions--in particular, the rule of law--are the keys to unlocking the developing world's full growth potential. But what exactly does this mean? Which legal institutions matter and why? How can policymakers use this knowledge to promote growth? In The Law-Growth Nexus, Kenneth Dam brings five decades of experience as a legal scholar and policymaker to bear upon these questions. After reviewing the burgeoning literature on legal institutions and economic development, Dam unpacks the ""rule of law"" concept. Successive chapters analyze enforcement, contracts, and property rights—the three concepts that collectively define rule of law—and examine their roles in the real estate and financial sectors. Dam uses an extended analysis of China to assess the importance of the rule of law. This case study illustrates several of the book's central themes, including the difficulty of building a strong, independent judiciary and firstclass financial sector. The stark fact is that many parts of what we call the developing world have stopped developing, while other regions have seen a slowdown in once-promising growth. Could new or better legal institutions help jumpstart these economies? In exploring this question, Th e Law-Growth Nexus goes beyond regression results to examine the underlying mechanisms through which the law, the judiciary, and the legal profession influence the economy. The result is essential reading for analysts and policymakers facing the challenges of legal and economic reform."

In The Rules of the Global Game Kenneth W. Dam provides, in clear and practical language, a comprehensive examination that helps non-economists make sense of the forces that shape U. S. international monetary policies. Elucidating both the internal structures and external ramifications of global economics, this book can be read with pleasure and profit by layperson and economist alike. It allows readers to go beyond the headlines to understand the policies that shape our economy and thus our lives.

In The Rules of the Global Game Kenneth W. Dam provides, in clear and practical language, a comprehensive examination that helps non-economists make sense of the forces that shape U. S. international monetary policies. Elucidating both the internal structures and external ramifications of global economics, this book can be read with pleasure and profit by layperson and economist alike. It allows readers to go beyond the headlines to understand the policies that shape our economy and thus our lives.

Drawing from their experience as government insiders, George P. Shultz and Kenneth W. Dam show how economic policy is shaped at the highest levels of government. They reveal the interconnections between economic, social, and international policy, covering issues such as the advocacy system and the role of the individual in shaping policy. A new chapter, 'A Changed World,' explores the various influences of our increasingly global economy on economic strategy. With rare candor, authority and breadth of vision, Shultz and Dam have produced a brilliant introduction to economic policy, its principles, and practice. "A model of brevity and lucidity ...[Economic Policy Beyond the Headlines] incorporates a unique and rewarding blend of economic reasoning with a high level of political awareness ...enriched by the wide personal experience in government of the authors."--Albert T. Sommers, Across the Board "[Shultz and Dam] help foreign readers to understand why the world looks so different from Washington... This book should provide the model."--The Economist "A wise and valuable book showing great insight into the realities of economic policy making."--Henry A. Kissinger