Law in the Finance-Growth Nexus : The South Asian Paradox

Imperfect legal systems and embryonic financial systems are not uncommon features of many emerging market and developing economies. However, the remarkable economic growth taking place among the economies of South Asia, despite poorly functioning legal systems and emerging financial systems is paradoxical to the law-finance-growth nexus widely accepted by academics and international organisations.This article explores the role of law and legal institutions in the finance-growth nexus and seeks to bring a focus to the quest for economic growth among emerging market and developing economies. It argues that the countries of South Asia are among a growing number of emerging market and developing economies in direct contradiction to the law-finance-growth nexus. It questions the ‘law matters' premise in the context of the emerging market and developing economies in South Asia experiencing rapid growth in the recent past and the applicability of the law-finance-growth nexus. The proposition advanced is that economic growth among these countries is not premised upon well-established legal systems or mature financial systems as broadly accepted and advanced by the literature