World in Progress: Arbitration courts - why citizens foot the bill for big investors

Published: July 29, 2020, 1:41 p.m.

When foreign investors sue governments for losses due to policy changes in so-called arbitration courts, countries - and taxpayers - can end up paying billions. The system was set up to protect foreign investors - but critics say that it mainly helps companies dodge national laws, and has become a lucrative and highly intransparent business harming citizens.