Economic Analysis of Public Law

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
TUE, WED, THU 3:45 - 5:45 pm TNH 2.123

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Early exam April 17, 2015 10:00 am - 12:00 pm A-Z in 3.126

Description

Should criminals pay fines or should they instead be sent to jail? Should convicts pay for their DNA testing? Is there an efficient level of pollution? Is a bi-cameral legislature better than a unicameral one? This course examines these and similar questions through the lens of economic analysis of law. Economic analysis of law applies economic principles to legal analysis. The course explores how this approach sheds light on a variety of otherwise-puzzling aspects of public law. The course will also examine the limits of economic theory, asking such questions as: Are people really rational? Is efficiency fair? The course is a 1-credit course offered over two weeks in April. No background in economics is required or assumed.