ECON 241 Law and Economics
| ECON 241 Syllabus [Fall 2021] |
Scholarly Articles
Week 1: Law and Legislation
Klerman, Daniel. (2007) "Jurisdictional Competition and the Evolution of the Common Law."
Trakman, Leon. (2003) "From the Medieval Law Merchant to E-Merchant Law."
Week 2: Economic Efficiency and Utility Theory
Ellen Frankel Paul. (1978) "J.S. Mill: The Utilitarian Influence in the Demise of Laissez-Faire"
Week 3: Property Rights and Takings
Terry L. Anderson and P.J. Hill. (1975) "The Evolution of Property Rights."
Harold Demsetz. (1967) "Toward a Theory of Property Rights."
Michael Heller. (1998) "The Tragedy of the Anti-Commons."
Week 4: Externalities and Transaction Costs
Coase, Ronald. (1960) "The Problem of Social Cost."
Donohue, John J. III (1989) "Diverting the Coasian River: Incentive Schemes to Reduce Unemployment Spells."
Stevenson, Betty and Wolfers, J. (2004) "Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress."
Week 5: Contracts and Breach
Ellickson, Robert C. (1986) "Of Coase and Cattle: Dispute Resolution among Neighbors in Shasta County."
Charles J. Goetz & Robert E. Scott. (1980) "Enforcing Promises: An Examination of the Basis of Contract."
Week 8: Product Liability
Guido Calabresi and A. Douglas Melamed. (1972) "Property Rules, Liability Rules, and Inalienability: One View of the Cathedral."
Harold Demsetz (1972) "When Does the Rule of Liability Matter?"
Steve Shavell. (1980). "Strict Liability versus Negligence."
Week 10: Torts and Public Health
Currie, J. and W. Bentley MacLeod. (2008) "First Do No Harm? Tort Reform and Birth Outcomes."
Helland, E. and Tabarrok, A. (2002) "The Effect of Electoral Institutions on Tort Awards."
Manning, Richard. (1994) "Changing Rules in Tort Law and the Market for Childhood Vaccines."
Week 13: The Economics of Crime...
Becker, Gary (1974) "Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach" (NBER pdf)
Levitt, Steven. (2004) "Understanding Why Crime Fell in the 1990s: Four Factors That Explain the Decline and Six That Do Not."
Week 14: ...and Punishment
Klick, J. and Tabarrok, A. (2005) "Using Terror Alert Levels To Estimate the Effect of Police on Crime."
Wolfers, Justin and John Donohue. (2005) "Uses and Abuses of Empirical Evidence in the Death Penalty Debate."
Klerman, Daniel. (2007) "Jurisdictional Competition and the Evolution of the Common Law."
Trakman, Leon. (2003) "From the Medieval Law Merchant to E-Merchant Law."
Week 2: Economic Efficiency and Utility Theory
Ellen Frankel Paul. (1978) "J.S. Mill: The Utilitarian Influence in the Demise of Laissez-Faire"
Week 3: Property Rights and Takings
Terry L. Anderson and P.J. Hill. (1975) "The Evolution of Property Rights."
Harold Demsetz. (1967) "Toward a Theory of Property Rights."
Michael Heller. (1998) "The Tragedy of the Anti-Commons."
Week 4: Externalities and Transaction Costs
Coase, Ronald. (1960) "The Problem of Social Cost."
Donohue, John J. III (1989) "Diverting the Coasian River: Incentive Schemes to Reduce Unemployment Spells."
Stevenson, Betty and Wolfers, J. (2004) "Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress."
Week 5: Contracts and Breach
Ellickson, Robert C. (1986) "Of Coase and Cattle: Dispute Resolution among Neighbors in Shasta County."
Charles J. Goetz & Robert E. Scott. (1980) "Enforcing Promises: An Examination of the Basis of Contract."
Week 8: Product Liability
Guido Calabresi and A. Douglas Melamed. (1972) "Property Rules, Liability Rules, and Inalienability: One View of the Cathedral."
Harold Demsetz (1972) "When Does the Rule of Liability Matter?"
Steve Shavell. (1980). "Strict Liability versus Negligence."
Week 10: Torts and Public Health
Currie, J. and W. Bentley MacLeod. (2008) "First Do No Harm? Tort Reform and Birth Outcomes."
Helland, E. and Tabarrok, A. (2002) "The Effect of Electoral Institutions on Tort Awards."
Manning, Richard. (1994) "Changing Rules in Tort Law and the Market for Childhood Vaccines."
Week 13: The Economics of Crime...
Becker, Gary (1974) "Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach" (NBER pdf)
Levitt, Steven. (2004) "Understanding Why Crime Fell in the 1990s: Four Factors That Explain the Decline and Six That Do Not."
Week 14: ...and Punishment
Klick, J. and Tabarrok, A. (2005) "Using Terror Alert Levels To Estimate the Effect of Police on Crime."
Wolfers, Justin and John Donohue. (2005) "Uses and Abuses of Empirical Evidence in the Death Penalty Debate."
Court Cases
Regulatory Takings Cases (PDF)
Arver v. United States (SCOTUS, Selective Service draft [Demsetz on externalities], 1917): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief
Lawrence v. Texas (SCOTUS, privacy rights, 2003): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief; Supreme court overturns gay sex law (The Guardian)
Kelo v. City of New London (SCOTUS, eminent domain, 2005): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief; The Legacy of Kelo v. New London (YouTube)
Timbs v. Indiana (SCOTUS, civil forfeiture, 2019): Wikipedia Summary; SCOTUS Opinion (pdf); Supreme Court Limits Police Powers to Seize Private Property (NYT)
Arver v. United States (SCOTUS, Selective Service draft [Demsetz on externalities], 1917): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief
Lawrence v. Texas (SCOTUS, privacy rights, 2003): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief; Supreme court overturns gay sex law (The Guardian)
Kelo v. City of New London (SCOTUS, eminent domain, 2005): Wikipedia Summary; Cornell Case Brief; The Legacy of Kelo v. New London (YouTube)
Timbs v. Indiana (SCOTUS, civil forfeiture, 2019): Wikipedia Summary; SCOTUS Opinion (pdf); Supreme Court Limits Police Powers to Seize Private Property (NYT)