LAW 644 - Law and Economics Workshop

Course Type: Upper Level Elective
Credits: 2

Description: The law and economics movement applies microeconomic theory and method to the practice of law. It asserts that the tools of economic reasoning offer the best possibility for justified and consistent legal practice. Today, law and economics is one of the dominant theories of jurisprudence. This seminar will provide students with an opportunity to discuss ongoing research in the economic analysis of law. At each session, an invited speaker will present a work-in-progress, and then take questions from students and faculty in the audience. Speakers will include prominent and new scholars in the field of law and economics broadly defined, including topics such as bankruptcy, competition policy, consumer protection policy, contracts, corporate governance, corporate law, criminal law, econometrics, empirical methods, environmental law and economics, family law and economics, intellectual property, judicial decision making, law and development, property, securities law, social norms, tax law and policy, and torts. There is no course prerequisite, but some familiarity with economic reasoning is helpful. Each class meeting will begin with a thirty-minute lecture on the economics undergirding the speaker’s thesis. Following the lecture, the meeting will be opened to faculty who wish to attend, and lunch will be provided to both students and faculty. The speaker will then be given approximately thirty minutes to present their work-in-progress, and the final thirty minutes will be reserved for questions and comments. Funding for food and in-person speakers will be provided by the International Center for Law and Economics