Rules for a Flat World: why humans invented law and how to reinvent it for a complex global economy

by Gillian K. Hadfield

Technology and globalization are uprooting and reshaping daily life. Global supply chains are now deeply embedded, and digital platforms connect almost everyone in complex networks of data and exchange. This "flat world" is one of tremendous possibility, but it also poses challenges to stability and shared prosperity. In Rules for a Flat World, Gillian Hadfield argues that the legal rules that currently guide global integration are no longer working. They are too slow, costly, and localized for increasingly complex advanced economies, and fail to address issues such as poverty, instability, and oppression for the billions living in the developing world. Hadfield proposes a new set of rules that enhance complex societies and economic interdependence and makes the case for building a more agile infrastructure. In this paperback edition, she presents a new prologue to her sweeping historical overview and vision of the relationship between law and economic and social prosperity.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Law, Business

408 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I thought it would touch on what lawyers could do with their own work to innovate. But I was delightfully surprised to find that she went beyond that and studied the whole legal system to write about how laws create stability and trust for economic growth. She delved into different legal systems throughout history and theorized why they could have worked. She also talked about how social norms play a role in unstructured societies or societies without government, and how social punishment works to enforce social norms or rules that are actually negotiated and agreed upon. She also talked about how to improve legal rules and enforcement to help those struggling to survive in developing countries. Throughout her book, she readily identifies weaknesses in her own ideas. For example, she talked about third-party organizations creating commercial laws to replace state laws and to create a new court system (sort of similar to the idea of arbitration) that is respected by the parties with the conflict and could be respected by the state. She recognized that a short-coming to this idea is that it still may not be fair and protect the rights of the individual.

Her writing is very good, although I did spot a few errors. And at times it would sort of babble on or keep repeating the same ideas. So the book could have been written in less than 350 pages. But it is well organized in sections. I would highly recommend reading it if you are interested in changing the legal infrastructure in the west or you have an interest in helping people in developing countries. She points out in a very articulate way, that the poor in that country cannot succeed unless there is a stable government and an end to corruption, but you cannot encourage growth in poor countries by applying expensive western laws and norms.

[Rishabh Kabra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm a fan of Gillian's work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and law. Here she makes the case that modern Western civilization owes its development to common knowledge, indirect enforcement, and innovation of rule-based systems. It also asserts that the law profession currently needs more competition, diversity, and flexibility to innovate.

A fascinating read overall, though the historical narrative occasionally seems cyclical/repetitive (e.g. Europe as the center of legal innovation). The modern narrative is full of startup-speak (e.g. vertically vs horizontally integrated companies). I wasn't wholly convinced by the example of Dubai's International Financial Center as a beacon of legal innovation either. Nevertheless, an engrossing perspective on the whole.

[Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alas, I could not finish this lengthy but overly developed treatise. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I were a lawyer. It is interesting, and I’m glad I read two-thirds of it. The author’s criticisms of today’s expensive and inefficient legal profession could be levied at the medical profession as well: There is elitism and rigidity of both thought and practice that is the result of de-facto monopoly. The author traces the development of various legal codes throughout history and how they evolved into the current system. She demonstrates why they are not applicable to the current businesses that must deal with rapid technological innovations that require more nimble processes for settling disputes or writing contracts. She also presents suggestions for reform. However, I felt she could have trimmed this book by half and made her arguments more cogent and precise.

[Charmaine vd Merwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure you'll enjoy this if you're not an economist or a lawyer. I'm not sure actually, if you'll enjoy this if you are a lawyer. A spade is called a spade in this book. But I think every lawyer should read this and we lawyers need to seriously rethink what we're doing and whether we are still contributing to society. Because if we don't stop and review, we might litigate and legislate ourselves out of relevance.

[Todd Hartle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly bun, little beef. Another book that should have been an article.

[Lisa Duranleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checkout the reviews...
"Rules for a Flat World is a rare book", "a treasure trove of fresh thinking", "thoughtful and thought provoking", "a most absorbing read", "a scholarly tome", "makes for a most absorbing read", "a call to arms", "Hadfield moves nimbly between history, sociology, law, and economics", "Engagingly written", "an essential and delightful read", "Fantastic book", "at once an education and a manifesto", "argues with authority"
"a tour de force from an omnivorous intellect", "an amazing accomplishment", "This is a must read", "Read Rules for a Flat World -- it is your future", "Brilliantly researched, sweeping in scope", "insightful, engaging, and charming exploration", "important book ", "I couldn't put it down"
"crucial new insights to longstanding problems", "engrossing book", "original and compelling", "Should be compulsory reading", "brings uncommon clarity, reach, and depth to her analysis", "shaping all the major economies of the world"
"illuminating waypoints like Silicon Valley, Zimbabwe, and ancient Athens with insight"

Reviews are from these institutions:
Harvard University
The World Bank
Apple Inc.
Microsoft Corp.
Ebay
PayPal
LegalZoom
Cisco Systems
Stanford Law School
Xerox
Vodafone Group
Harvard Business School
Cornell University
Modria.com

[Mills College Library]

340.115 H129 2017