Efficiency Instead of Justice?

Searching for the Philosophical Foundations of the Economic Analysis of Law
Softcover Nachdruck of hardcover 1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-90-481-8203-9
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 84, 220 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 365 g

Reihe: Law and Philosophy Library

Economic analysis of law is an interesting and challenging attempt to employ the concepts and reasoning methods of modern economic theory so as to gain a deeper understanding of legal problems. According to Richard A. Posner it is the role of the law to encourage market competition and, where the market fails because transaction costs are too high, to simulate the result of competitive markets. This would maximize economic efficiency and social wealth.

In this work, the lawyer and economist Klaus Mathis critically appraises Posner’s normative justification of the efficiency paradigm from the perspective of the philosophy of law. Posner acknowledges the influences of Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham, whom he views as the founders of normative economics. He subscribes to Smith’s faith in the market as an ideal allocation model, and to Bentham’s ethical consequentialism. Finally, aligning himself with John Rawls’s contract theory, he seeks to legitimize his concept of wealth maximization with a consensus theory approach.

In his interdisciplinary study, the author points out the possibilities as well as the limits of economic analysis of law. It provides a method of analysing the law which, while very helpful, is also rather specific. The efficiency arguments therefore need to be incorporated into a process for resolving value conflicts. In a democracy this must take place within the political decision-making process. In this clearly written work, Klaus Mathis succeeds in making even non-economists more aware of the economic aspects of the law.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mathis, Klaus

Weitere Mitwirkende

Shannon, Deborah

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtstheorie, Rechtsmethodik, Rechtsdogmatik, Rechtsprechungslehre
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsphilosophie, Rechtsethik
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Beziehungen des Rechts zu anderen Disziplinen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Economic Foundations.- Homo Economicus.- Efficiency Criteria.- Economic Analysis of Law.- Philosophical Foundations.- Adam Smith’ Moral Philosophy.- Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarianism.- John Rawls’s Theory of Justice.- Wealth, Efficiency and Justice.- Richard Posner’s Theory of Wealth Maximization.- Justice and Efficiency.- Conclusions.