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Laws are a set of rules governing the conduct of and for various types of transactions. They are implemented through institutions like the legislature, bureaucracy, courts and police. The kind of laws and their implementation can greatly affect the economy, politics and society in the country. A country may have the best laws on paper, but if the implementation is marred by corruption and nepotism, few will have faith in the judiciary

There are different types of laws regulating various activities and which may be region specific. The laws for noise levels or starting a business will be different in a village and in a large metropolitan city. The laws are formulated by the lawmakers and reflect the beliefs of civil society in the region. In many countries, with an official religion like the Middle Eastern Countries, the laws may be derived from religious texts.

In countries with a democratically elected government, the laws are formulated and approved by the legislature, and implemented by the bureaucracy. In dictatorships, the legislature rubber stamps the laws formulated by the ruler. In many countries which were under colonial rule, the laws formulated by the colonial rulers continue to be applicable.