Empire, law and economic growth

This article explores three concepts in global history - empire, law and economic growth - and their coming closer together to form a new discourse. Two recent tendencies contribute to the making of the discourse. Imperial history moves away from a view of empires as extractive machines towards a view of empires as legislating states. Economic history, on the other hand, underscores the role of legislation as a foundation for modern economic growth. Law, then, is the new bridge between empire and economic growth. Does this idea help us understand Indian history?