Research Handbook on the Economics of Torts (Hardcover)

The highlight of this intellectually rich volume is the multiple perspectives it offers on the economic analysis of the tort system. In collecting these essays from leading legal scholars, Jennifer Arlen offers a wide range of empirical, institutional, and doctrinal dimensions of economic thought critical to assessing how our socio-legal system addresses the problem of accidental harm. The volume will serve as an invaluable contribution to the literature on the dynamic character of the tort system in action.' - Robert L. Rabin, Stanford Law School, US'An indispensable resource for anyone interested in economic analysis of tort law, and tort law period. Professor Arlen has assembled an academic all-star team, and its members have prepared up-to-date, high quality, and accessible treatments of centrally important topics ranging from causation and damages to vicarious liability and insurance to tort reform and tort alternatives. With respect to the analysis of tort law through the lenses of empirical and microeconomic analysis, this is now the go-to volume.' John Goldberg, Harvard Law School, US 'This Handbook redefines the boundaries of research in the economics of torts by integrating the standard model with a theoretical and empirical analysis of the institutions intervening before (contracts) and after (litigation) the occurrence of harm. It is an essential companion for scholars working in this field and provides plenty of new ideas for further research.' - Giuseppe Dari-Mattiacci, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands This pioneering Handbook contains specially-commissioned chapters on tort law from leading experts in the field. This volume evaluates issues of vital importance to those seeking to understand and reform the tort law and the litigation process, taking a multi-disciplinary approach, including theoretical economic analysis, empirical analysis, socio-economic analysis, and behavioral analysis. Topics discussed include products liability, medical malpractice, causation, proximate cause, joint and several liability, class actions, mass torts, vicarious liability, settlement, damage rules, juries, tort reform, and potential alternatives to the tort system. Scholars, students, legal practitioners, regulators, and judges with an interest in tort law, litigation, damages, and reform will find this seminal Handbook an invaluable addition to their libraries. Focusing on issues of vital importance to those seeking to understand and reform the tort system, this volume takes a multi-disciplinary approach, including theoretical economic analysis, empirical analysis, socio-economic analysis, and behavioral analysis of liability rules and the litigation process. Topics discussed include products liability, medical malpractice, causation, proximate cause, joint and several liability, class actions, mass torts, vicarious liability, settlement, damage rules, juries, tort reform, and potential alternatives to the tort system. Scholars, students, law practitioners, regulators, judges and economists with an interest in tort law, litigation, damages, and reform will find this seminal Handbook an invaluable addition to their libraries. Contributors: J. Arlen, L. Babcock, T. Baker, R. Cooter, A.F. Daughety, D. DePianto, S.S. Diamond, T. Eisenberg, R.A. Epstein, J. Furgeson, M.A. Geistfeld, M.F. Grady, L. Hardcastle, M. Heise, E. Helland, D.R. Hensler, K.N. Hylton, L.A. Kornhauser, R. Kraakman, G. Miller, J.F. Reinganum, J.M. Salerno, S.A. Seabury, C.M. Sharkey, P. Siegelman, E.L. Talley, M. Trebilcock, P.-E. Veel, W.K. Viscusi, A.L. Wickelgren, K. Zeiler