Welcome!

Welcome!  I am a student at the James E. Rogers College of law in Arizona and a member of the Journal of International and Comparative Law.  My task over the next several months is to write a journal article of publishable quality.  I've decided to use Hernando De Soto's, "The Mystery of Capital," as a jumping-off point for my article.  

De Soto argues that one of the biggest obstacles to growth in the Third World is the lack of formalized property rights for many of its poorest citizens.  Without this legal recognition, these individuals cannot borrow against their property to obtain capital to engage in entrepreneurship, and they must often rely on gangs or other extra-legal means to protect their claims.

What appeals to me most about DeSoto's thesis is its internal approach to development.  Rather than relying solely on external sources of capital such as international banks or charitable organizations, he argues that leaders within developing countries can grow their economies if they create effective and efficient legal institutions that parallel informal property rights.

I encourage everyone to read De Soto's book.  Many still debate parts or all of his thesis, so I encourage anyone with an opinion to post.

Best,

Jonathan Confer