International harmonization of economic regulation is an attempt to eliminate, or at least reduce, regulatory diversity in economic policy areas where states have autonomous regulatory jurisdiction. In some regulatory areas, its history dates back to the late 19th century, but harmonization efforts have accelerated and intensified particularly since the 1980s. This book is a first attempt to comprehend the phenomenon of international harmonization of economic regulation in its entirety by analyzing its causes and backgrounds as well as negotiating processes involved in a broad range of areas, ... More

International harmonization of economic regulation is an attempt to eliminate, or at least reduce, regulatory diversity in economic policy areas where states have autonomous regulatory jurisdiction. In some regulatory areas, its history dates back to the late 19th century, but harmonization efforts have accelerated and intensified particularly since the 1980s. This book is a first attempt to comprehend the phenomenon of international harmonization of economic regulation in its entirety by analyzing its causes and backgrounds as well as negotiating processes involved in a broad range of areas, and by elucidating the impact of harmonization on domestic laws and global economic governance. Through its analysis, this book emphasizes the existence of dynamic regulatory structures and processes of global economic governance consisting of different actors (notably, international harmonizing bodies, states and the private sector) and the interconnectedness of international rule-making and domestic implementation. It also highlights non-legislative (soft law) and non‐juridical aspects (collegial implementation) of the drafting and implementation of harmonized regulation. It thus provides new empirical and theoretical perspectives for understanding international economic law and global economic governance. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of international economic law and international relations, as well as government officials and corporate lawyers dealing with economic regulation in a wide range of areas.