Law & Economics
Objectives
The course introduces the students to the field of law and economics. Part I describes critically the main concepts and introduces the students to the most promising contemporary approaches. Part II focuses on the significance of several economic concepts in a variety of legal contexts.
This course is unique in its approach to the discipline of law and economics. The purpose of the course is two-fold. First, it equips students to critically engage with economic analysis. Second, it teaches students to identify economic problems that the law addresses in a variety of different contexts.
General characterization
Code
27102
Credits
4
Responsible teacher
Fabrizio Esposito
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 0
Teaching language
Available soon
Prerequisites
Not Applicable
Bibliography
Not Applicable
Teaching method
A mix of theoretical lectures and individual and group reflections in class and on Moodle.
Evaluation method
Final exam
The final exam will consist of two questions - one theoretical and one practical - on the content of the lectures.
Continuous evaluation: 50%
The grade can only complement that of the final exam
- Attendance: 50% ensures 10 in the continuous evaluation, 75% 12, 90% 13
- Class participation: active discussion and engagement, including on Moodle
- Individual assignment: Apply any of the notions studied in class to an existing legal framework. Examples include: explain how a certain provision avoids a tragedy of the commons; criticize a certain provision from a behavioural ethics perspective; explain why the central proposal of Radical Markets is legally too alien; reject a claim as a form of economism
Subject matter
1 Introduction
Part I: Basic ideas
2 Foundational concepts
3 Efficiency and the law: the basic ideas
4 Different approaches
5 Enforcement
6 Efficiency, distribution and the law: a long-lasting dilemma
Part II: Transactions and the Legal-Economics Nexus
7 Transaction costs and the law I: Without externalities
8 Transaction costs and the law II: With externalities
9 Bargaining power and theories of harm