Chapter 1 | Page 15 Article 2(1) of the ICESCR. It presents new perspectives on and practical interpretations of the concept of resources required for ESC rights realisation, with specific focus on theoretical development of the concept of ‘maximum available resources’. A cross-disciplinary approach integrating theoretical, conceptual and practical elements of law, economics, public policy and public finance is used to enrich the human rights perspective in relation to the role of ‘resources’ in ESC rights realisation. This disciplinary synthesis broadens the scope of the concept of ‘maximum available resources’, which in turn strengthens the case for effective implementation of the ESC rights obligations within State policy and practice. Specific objectives of the study were to:  develop and expand an operational understanding of the concept of ‘maximum available resources’ and how various propositions and arguments put forward by academics interact and enrich these definitions  develop a broad, cross-disciplinary framework of ‘maximum available resources’ to encompass theoretical, conceptual and practical elements of resources in relation to human rights obligations under the ICESCR  broaden the intellectual, conceptual and theoretical space around ESC rights obligations and create practical connections within a crossdisciplinary interpretive framework for improved advancement of the realisation of ESC rights within public discourse and public policy practice. To achieve these objectives, the thesis builds on existing scholarship on resources required for human rights and synthesises the theoretical, conceptual and practical aspects of relevant disciplines within a human rights framework.