This curated volume is based on papers and discussions from two Conferences organized by the International Association of Constitutional Law and the Research Group on Social Rights. The first conference was held in Rio de Janeiro (April 14-16, 2013) in collaboration with FGV-Rio and focused on "Constitutionalism and Economic Crisis: National and Transnational Economic Regulation and Social Rights in the 21st Century." The contribution of Vicki Jackson, Vice President of IACL responsible for conferences and Round Tables of the organization, was instrumental in the success of the event.

The second conference took place in Athens (June 28-29, 2013) centered on "State Debt and Fundamental Social Rights," in cooperation with the Hellenic Association of Constitutional Law, the International Center for Human Rights (LIBERTAS), and the Center for European Constitutional Law - Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos.