Economic Principles of Law

Cento Veljanovski is Managing Partner of Case Associates; IEA Fellow in Law & Economics, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London; Visiting Fellow, Law & Economics Centre, Australian National University; and Affiliate, Interdisciplinary Centre for Competition Law & Policy, Queen Mary College, University of London. Dr Veljanovski was the first economist appointed to a lectureship in a law department at a British university and has written many books and articles on industrial economics, economic reform and law and economics. He also serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including the UK Competition Law Report and the Journal of Network Industries.

Economic Principles of Law applies economics to the doctrines, rules and remedies of the common law. In plain English and using non-technical analysis, it offers an introduction and exposition of the 'economic approach' to law - one of the most exciting and vibrant fields of legal scholarship and applied economics. Beginning with a brief history of the field, it sets out the basic economic concepts useful to lawyers, and applies these to assess the core areas of the common law - property, contract, tort and crime - with particular emphasis on their doctrinal structure and remedies. This is done using leading cases drawn from the birthplace of the common law (England & Wales) and other common law jurisdictions. The book serves as a primer to the wider use of economics which has become increasingly important for law students, lawyers, legislators, regulators and those concerned with our legal system generally.

Economic Principles of Law applies economics to the doctrines, rules and remedies of the common law. It describes in plain English and using non-technical analysis, how basic economic concepts can be used to examine and criticise the law and applies these to the core areas of the common law - property, contract, tort and crime. The discussion is illustrated using leading common law cases in each area familiar to all law students. It also serves as a primer to the wider use of economics in legal analysis.

List of figures; List of tables; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Economic Approach; 3. Property; 4. Contract; 5. Tort; 6. Crime; Economic glossary; Bibliography; Cases cited; Index.