Economics of Law, Policy and Organization
SOSC 2330 6.0
Fall/Winter 2006-2007

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Course Overview:

This course looks at how economics (and related forms of social inquiry) can inform moral and political argument in the study of law and policy. It is well known that some of the leading approaches to 'law and economics' and 'political economy' in recent years have challenged the assumptions that have been used to justify a strong and interventionist government (characteristic of the post WWII era). However, others have held that the return to a reliance on the market alone has not worked effectively as a policy model. Long-standing issues about the trade-off between efficiency and equity are important to this debate.

One of the key goals of this course will be to test and compare the merits of competing economic ideas by applying them to specific issues in law and policy. Some of these include: consumer protection, gender equity in the workplace, the regulation of communications and information, rent control, intellectual property, privacy rights, liability, land-use control, natural resources and energy, environmental protection, the law on torts, income inequality and security, state-provided services, contracting out, anti-trust issues, farm support programs, insurance, corporate governance and administrative law. We end by highlighting the particularly thorny policy issues connected with globalization.

No previous work in economics is assumed, but students are expected to master some basic economic concepts and ideas in developing their responses to paper topics and test questions. Since this is a critical skills course, students will be asked to develop their skills in the area of reading, critical-analytical writing and oral presentations in tutorials.