Abstract

Most-favored nation (MFN) clauses are a hotly contested basis for jurisdiction in investment arbitration. This article categorizes
the divergent approaches taken by 17 arbitral tribunals to date, revealing the major types of MFN clauses interpreted, the
key types of MFN questions confronted and the primary reasons cited for either upholding or denying MFN-based jurisdiction.
It analyzes trends emerging from the awards and attempts to explain the inconsistent outcomes in terms of the different burdens
of persuasion applied by tribunals. The article concludes by exploring the feasibility of finding a more consistent approach,
one which respects both the dictates of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the pragmatic concerns of investors
and host states.

Authors

Julie A Maupin

Year

2011

Journal

Journal of International Economic Law, (14)1, 157–190.

Keywords

Computational Finance, Cryptology, and Data Analysis