Foundations of Economic Analysis of Law | 
 enlarge | Author: Steven Shavell
Publisher: Belknap Press
Category: Book
List Price: $76.50
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 46962
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 768
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.8
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.5 x 1.8
ISBN: 0674011554
Dewey Decimal Number: 340.1
EAN: 9780674011557
Publication Date: March 15, 2004
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Product Description
What effects do laws have? Do individuals drive more cautiously, clear ice from sidewalks more diligently, and commit fewer crimes because of the threat of legal sanctions? Do corporations pollute less, market safer products, and obey contracts to avoid suit? And given the effects of laws, which are socially best? Such questions about the influence and desirability of laws have been investigated by legal scholars and economists in a new, rigorous, and systematic manner since the 1970s. Their approach, which is called economic, is widely considered to be intellectually compelling and to have revolutionized thinking about the law. In this book Steven Shavell provides an in-depth analysis and synthesis of the economic approach to the building blocks of our legal system, namely, property law, tort law, contract law, and criminal law. He also examines the litigation process as well as welfare economics and morality. Aimed at a broad audience, this book requires neither a legal background nor technical economics or mathematics to understand it. Because of its breadth, analytical clarity, and general accessibility, it is likely to serve as a definitive work in the economic analysis of law. (20061201)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Concise and easy to read January 24, 2008
A. Person (Cambridge, MA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the best introduction on the subject that I've found. Other books on the subject require quite a bit of patience and will to get through; this book, on the other hand, is written in a vivid style and is really a joy to read. No graphs or curves in this book. The author manages to describe complicated ideas in very simple and easy-to-understand language, making good use of extended examples. Shavell is himself one of the innovators in the field, and his mastery of all the relevant literature is clear throughout.
Superb introduction to Law and Economics January 25, 2008
Proshanto Mukherji
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a superb introduction to Law and Economics, focusing on the standard first-year law classes: Property, Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Law.
Although it contains some complex ideas and some startling insights (see, e.g., the chapter on the effect of insurance on Tort law), this book is never confusing. Each topic is analyzed in Prof. Shavell's careful, painstaking style. Models -- simple ones first, then their more sophisticated brethren -- are defined, described in detail, and illustrated with many numerical examples. No advanced mathematical knowledge is presumed or required. Complex economic ideas are rigorously explained in simple English. The math is in the footnotes for them as like it. If anything, you might occasionally feel that the pace is too deliberate, but that is really because of the excellence of the explanation that has gone before.
Reasonable people disagree about the value and validity of the economic approach to law. Some love it; some loathe it. Nobody can deny, however, that it is an important feature of the modern legal academic landscape. And there is no better foundation for an informed love or loathing of it than this excellent book.
Great book! January 19, 2008
Till Soyka
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really liked the book. It it well-structured and gives the reader a good feeling for the variety of economic arguments that do / should influence legal rules. It's also very well-written and easy to understand for both non-lawerys and non-economists. It has really deepened my understanding of how the law works. I can only recommend it.
Breakthrough in understanding law and economics February 5, 2008
Sherief Rashed
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is simply a breakthrough to understanding law and economics. It's easy, self explanatory way and simplified examples explain the most complex ideas in a very simple and approachable way. No previous economic or legal background is necessary, though some tort law and contract law background might be helpful in enhancing the analysis tools that this book provides. This is by far the best law and economics book I have read so far and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a beginner and interested in this area and this method of analysis.
 Great Survey January 19, 2008
Paul Rietema
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Accessible and comprehensive. It's not about depth on any one topic and, accordingly, one of its best features is the excellent direction it gives to those who are looking to dive deeper into the field. It was just what I was looking for.
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