Law and Economy

Sanctioning Corporations for Environmental Crimes in Cameroon

Tsayo Tenang Leopold — 2025-03-26

This article examines the legal regime in Cameroon with respect to the sanctioning of corporations for environmental crimes in the conduct of their activities. The paper specifically outlines the legal framework for corporate criminal responsibility with emphasis on the revised Penal Code. The article further examines the types of corporations that can be held criminally liable, the types of environmental crimes they may commit as well as the sanctions meted out on them. In as much as this paper applauds the introduction of corporate criminal liability in the Penal Code, it brings out the challenges to the effective implementation of the law and calls for the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code to readapt the changes brought in by the Penal Code in 2016.

Analysis of Changes in the Investment Environment for the Electric Vehicle Industry Under the EU’s 2035 Carbon Neutrality Goal

Pieter Van Dijk — 2025-03-26

The European Union’s ambitious 2035 carbon neutrality goal has significantly transformed the investment environment for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This paper analyzes the changes in investment trends, technological innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic positioning within the EU’s evolving landscape. By examining policy frameworks, market dynamics, and the influence of international competition, this study highlights the factors driving increased investment in the EV sector. Furthermore, environmental and social considerations are discussed as essential elements influencing investment strategies, with particular attention to sustainability and regional disparities. The findings indicate that technological advancements, particularly in battery technology and charging infrastructure, will continue to shape the EU’s investment environment. Policy support and collaboration between public and private sectors are identified as critical factors for enhancing competitiveness and ensuring inclusive growth. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at promoting a resilient and balanced investment environment for the European EV industry.

Research on the Global Marine Plastic Pollution Prevention and Control from the Perspective of International Law

Haowen Zhang — 2025-03-26

The increasing marine plastic pollution seriously threatens the marine environment and ecosystem, human health and the global economy, attracting wide attention from the international community. Despite the continuous efforts and attempts made at the global and regional levels in the legal regulation of marine plastic pollution, there are still many legal dilemmas such as the fragmentation of marine plastic pollution legislation, the lack of legislative specificity, and the difficulty in the implementation of existing relevant international regulations. In this context, this paper seeks to explore ways to deal with global marine plastic pollution from three aspects: promoting the enactment process of the “Global Agreement on Plastic Pollution”, coordinating hard laws and soft laws, and improving the implementation mechanism of marine plastic pollution prevention and control.

Research on the Integration and Development of Intelligent Legal Services with Civil and Commercial Law in the Context of Financial Innovation

Sicong Ma — 2025-03-26

With the acceleration of financial innovation and digital transformation, smart legal services, as an emerging field in legal services, have been widely applied in the financial industry. At the same time, the traditional legal framework of civil and commercial law faces many challenges in modernization, especially against the backdrop of financial innovation and technological changes. This paper explores the integration and development of smart legal services and civil and commercial law under the background of financial innovation. It first analyzes the technological foundations and development status of smart legal services and highlights its important role in improving the efficiency and quality of legal services. Then, the paper discusses the modernization challenges faced by civil and commercial law and its potential for integration with financial innovation. Finally, the paper proposes possible paths for the deep integration of smart legal services and civil and commercial law, the technological and legal challenges faced, and outlines the future development trends of this integration model. Through this study, the paper aims to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for legal innovation and the application of smart legal services in the financial field.

China’s Participation in Arctic Governance from the Perspective of International Law

Yanzhang Pan — 2025-03-27

From the perspective of international law, as a non-Arctic state, China’s participation in Arctic governance evolves through three stages: passive involvement, active exploration, and policy integration. China holds significant interests in the Arctic region, spanning environmental, economic, and security dimensions, and possesses corresponding legal mechanisms under international law. Currently, China’s engagement in the international legal system of Arctic governance faces challenges such as institutional exclusivity in Arctic governance, fragmentation of international legal rules, an underdeveloped domestic polar legal framework, and an immature capacity for rule-making. To address these issues, China may adopt strategies including leveraging existing international organizations and international law-based systems, advancing the construction of its domestic polar legal framework, fostering a multi-tiered and multi-stakeholder participation framework, and proposing responsible governance concepts and solutions.

Downsizing Government Through a Decentralized Approach to Public Employment

Seyed Ali Mousavi — 2025-03-31

Increasing the number of civil servants, in addition to increasing costs, will lead to a large and inefficient government; therefore, the aim of the present study is to achieve innovations and initiatives to reduce the size of the government and its costs by reviewing the public recruitment process. The United States of America is an example of a movement towards reducing the number of civil servants at the state and federal levels. This issue is investigated using a descriptive-analytical method and a library method. The research findings indicate that adopting a decentralized approach to public employment, through methods such as: delegating matters to regulatory agencies, employment declassification, and at-will employment, leads to a reduction in the size of the government by reducing the number of civil servants.