Overview
 

1.   The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, in collaborative partnership with the Law Society of England and Wales, is seeking a research consultant to undertake a literature review of the evidence concerning links between the rule of law and economic performance (including development, growth, prosperity and investment).

2.   Much of the existing literature on these issues lies outside legal scholarship, in the fields of economics and political science. To make the findings of the review more accessible, the consultancy report will need to include an overview and mapping of the evidence base for readers without specialist expertise in these fields.

3.   The research consultancy is funded by the Law Society. Both the Law Society and the Bingham Centre are organisations with a long-term commitment to promoting public understanding of the rule of law and its value to society. The consultancy report is not intended for immediate publication. However, the Law Society and the Bingham Centre plan to discuss it with stakeholders, and it is likely to inform both organisations’ future work.

 Consultancy Outputs
 

4.   The consultancy will have three outputs:

a.     a roundtable issues paper (3-4 pages) and reading list (1 page), for a roundtable to be hosted by the Law Society in mid-October (as further detailed in the timeframes section below)

b.     a roundtable summary and reflection note (max. 10 pages)

c.      a consultancy report, of ca. 10,000 words plus abstract and bibliography, which should consist of:

-        short abstract (100 words)

-        overview and mapping for general readers (ca. 2,000 words)

-        literature review (ca. 8,000 words)

-        bibliography

5.   The literature review should examine peer-reviewed literature on links between the rule of law and economic performance, and should consider:

d.     The rule of law as an aspect of state institutions in the literature on institutional determinants of economic performance

e.     Definitions of the rule of law that are used in key papers, and any major differences among these

f.Rule of law indicators that are used in key papers’ datasets

g.     Causal mechanisms that have been proposed, and tested, for the rule of law’s impact on economic performance

h.     Possibilities of endogeneity, bidirectional causation, publication bias and other potential problems with the literature

i. Variations in the economic impact of the rule of law, for example at different levels of development or national income, in different geographic regions or different types of legal systems, and at subnational level within states (where this has been studied)

j. Findings of particular relevance to the UK economy (the Bingham Centre may provide the consultant with published ‘grey literature’ on the UK that is not peer-reviewed).

6. Further details of the assignment and timescales are provided in the attached document.

7.  The successful applicant will have the following mix of experience, skills and attributes:
 
Essential

·       A minimum of a Master’s degree in a relevant field (economics or political science), with at least an undergraduate major in economics; 
 

·       Demonstrated ability to conduct research independently;
 

·       Strong understanding of rule of law, or ability to acquire the same;

·       Quantitative skills – including critical analysis and the ability to engage with published meta-analyses

·       Excellent written communication skills, including experience writing for both specialist and general audiences

·       Ability to synthesise

·       Excellent organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines

 Desirable
 

·       A PhD or comparable research experience

·       Familiarity with the literature on connections between institutions and economic performance.

How to apply
 

8.   Informal enquiries about this post may be addressed to Dr Jan van Zyl Smit, Director, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law (j.vanzylsmit@binghamcentre.biicl.org). As this is a research consultancy and all parts of the work can be carried out remotely, the research consultant need not be based in the UK.

9.   The application deadline is Sunday 3 August 2025 at 23.59.

11.   Applicants should upload the following in pdf format to the BreatheHR portal : 

· A full curriculum vitae with details of 2 referees; 

· A covering letter (maximum 2 pages) setting out your reasons for applying and how you consider that you meet the person specification for this consultancy.