Law and economics

Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences

Langue : Anglais

Période : S3

No prior knowledge in law and or in economics is required.

The course focuses on applying economic principles to analyze legal frameworks and institutions. The key objectives of the course are to:



  1. Analyze how legal rules impact incentives and behavior in areas such as contracts, property rights, torts, and criminal law.

  2. Explore the role of economic reasoning in shaping legal policies and judicial decisions.

  3. Evaluate legal systems from an economic perspective, with a focus on maximizing social welfare and minimizing costs.

  4. Apply economic models to assess the consequences of legal reforms and regulations.

  5. Develop the ability to use economic tools to critically assess legal problems and propose efficient solutions.


By the end of the course, students will be able to apply economic concepts to better understand the law and contribute to discussions on legal reforms from an efficiency-oriented perspective.


This course provides a comprehensive analysis of law through an economic lens, covering key topics such as the Coase Theorem, which highlights the role of transaction costs in efficient outcomes, and the economic theory of property law, which explores how property rights influence resource allocation. It delves into contract law, focusing on incomplete contracts and the theory of efficient breach, which argues that contract breaches can be economically beneficial under certain conditions. The course also addresses tort law, examining how liability rules and damages create incentives for minimizing social costs. Additionally, it explores the role of punitive measures in deterring harmful behavior, the economics of criminal law in shaping deterrence through sanctions, and the application of economic principles to constitutional law, focusing on how legal frameworks impact overall social welfare and efficiency.