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Economic Analysis of Law - LAWS3335
Science students

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: LAWS1001 and LAWS1011 and Corequisite: LAWS2311; Prerequisite: JURD7101 and JURD7111 and Corequisite: JURD7211
 
 
Excluded: JURD7335
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

This course provides an introduction to economic analysis of law and policy. For instance, the law against insider trading prohibits trading based on material, non-public information. In this course we examine what exactly is meant by "materiality"; we examine methods to determine whether information is public and to what degree it is reflected in the financial markets; and we analyze how this affects the legal liability of a trader in possession of the information.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Main Topics

  • Economic theory of contracts, including bargaining theory.
  • Economic analysis of tort liability.
  • Economic analysis of property law, including intellectual property and economics of information.
  • Law & economics of mergers and acquisitions.
  • Event studies in empirical analysis of corporate law, including financial frauds and market manipulation.

Assessment

Class participation - 10%

Periodic assignments - 20%

Final examination - 70%

Course Texts

  • A. Mitchell Polinsky, An Introduction to Law and Economics, 3rd ed. 2003, Aspen Publication
  • David D. Friedman, Law's Order 2000, Princeton University Press
  • Robert Cooter and Thomas Ulen, Law & Economics 2007 International Edition 5e, Pearson Australia
  • Richard A. Posner, Economic Analysis of Law, 7th ed 2007, Aspen Publication

Resources

Refer to the course outline which will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the relevant semester.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.