This edited volume is based on papers and discussions of two Conferences organized by the International Association of Constitutional Law and its Research Group of Social Rights. The first one has taken place in Rio de Janeiro (14, 15 and 16 April 2013) in collaboration with FGV-Rio and had as central theme “Constitutionalism and Economic Crisis: National and Transnational Economic Regulation and Social Rights in the 21st Century”. The contribution of Vicki Jackson, the IACL Vice-President responsible for the organizations’ conferences and Round Tables was pivotal for its success.

The second was held in Athens (28 and 29 June 2013) focusing on «Sovereign debt and fundamental social rights», in collaboration with the Association of Greek Constitutionalists, the International Centre on Human Rights (LIBERTAS) and the Centre for European Constitutional Law-Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos.