Centre for Economy, Development and Law (CED&L) is an inter-disciplinary centre established under Government Law College, Thrissur, Kerala. The proposed centre envisages to be a platform for academic discussion and as a creative think-tank for studying, analysing and interpreting various socio-economic and legal issues. This forum intends to generate perceptual framework to explore and understand social issues and events, thereby enabling the people and institutions to create best possible models in policy making and legal practices. Developing and disseminating knowledge on the cross-cutting areas of economy, development and law is the primary aim of this forum; and it is expected to make creative interventions in shaping progressive democratic practices.
ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT
Furthering development is the central concern of all organized economies. The qualitative and quantitative change envisioned by development of an economy, certainly requires a concerted effort from the policymakers and communities. Therefore, in a globalising world, the structures of economies may become defunct without effective institutional mechanisms. Such institutions would articulate a set of rules, which facilitates the activities in the economy both in terms of qualitative and quantitative change for progress. Nobel laureate Douglass North observed that institutions provide incentive structure to an economy; as that structure evolves, it shapes the direction of economic change towards growth, stagnation or decline. In other words, the institutions and the degree of its effectiveness determine the cost of transaction or the cost and benefits of exchange.
It is no doubt that both institutions such as government and rule of law are essential to realise the motto of making economic activities sustainable. On the contrary, a central issue of development economics is the persistence of dysfunctional institutions over long periods of time. This of course demands attention on the relevance and effectiveness of law in the process of economic development.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEVELOPING CROSS-CUTTING KNOWLEDGE BASE
Law has long been recognized as a reflection of the prevailing forces in a given society, and a potential instrument of change and progressive development. Society needs an efficient and effective legal system for the proper administration of law. Lack of sound legal and policy framework, and independent and effective judiciary may lead to obstacles in the path of progressive development. In this forum, we expect to develop cross- cutting knowledge base by bringing the academicians, legal scholars and other resources persons together to creatively engage, evaluate, and bridge such lacunas.
STRUCTURE
Students, academicians, jurists, journalists, politicians and anyone who wishes to offer his/her creative and intellectual input are invited to be part of the forum. The Principal of the college will be the patron and a teaching staff will be the Executive Director of the Centre. Students of Government Law College, Thrissur and other interested persons in limited number who are continuously associated with the Centre’s activities may be given membership subjected to the discretion of the patron and Executive Director. The briefs published by the Centre reflect the approach/policy of the Centre as a whole.
ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS
The activities of the Centre are summarized as follows
- Making policy briefs on relevant areas
- Publishing Newsletter on current socio-economic issues
- Publishing Working papers on various issues
- Conducting Lectures, workshops and seminars and publishing its outcome
- Conducting law impact assessments
- Conducting short term training and capacity building programs
- Acting as an advisory board for policy makers and governmental institutions
- Publishing a student-edited and peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal biannually called ‘Elenchus Law Review’ (L.R. Elen.) on behalf of Government Law College, Thrissur
- Working in coordination and collaboration with various national and international research organisations and universities.
- Conducting Minor and Major research activities initiated by the Centre and also entrusted by various Governmental and Non-governmental organisations.
FUTURE PLANS - The Centre envisions itself to evolve as an independent center parallel to regular academic activities and to engage in conducting short term