Economic debates about markets and freedom from the late 1940s onwards focused increasingly on how laws and regulation affected economic behavior, and how economics influenced legal decision-making. By the late 1950s the term "law and economics" came into use to refer to the application of economic analysis to legal problems. The overlap between legal and political systems also led to issues in law and economics being raised in political economy, constitutional economics, and political science. Concepts in Law and Economics: A Guide for the Curious provides a comprehensive integration of the fields of law and economics. In clear prose, Jim Leitzel challenges traditional approaches to law and economics and uncovers common themes that cut across the two fields, providing readers with a means of integrating their knowledge to examine problems through both a legal and economic lens. This book covers the major methods of law and economics and applies those methods to various issues, including art vandalism, sales of human kidneys, and the ownership of meteorites. Compact yet comprehensive, this is an ideal introduction to a vast number of concepts and controversies in the fields of law and economics. Economics students, law students, and those with a general interest in the social sciences will find Concepts in Law and Economics an interesting and engaging read, and will emerge with the necessary skills for thinking like a law and economics practitioner.

About the Author
Jim Leitzel is the Director of Public Policy Studies in the College at the University of Chicago, where he has taught public policy and economics since 1998. He received his PhD in economics from Duke University; he has taught at Vanderbilt University, Duke University, the New Economic School in Moscow, and the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University. Jim's research has concerned areas such as transition economics, gun control, and law and economics.

Reviews
"Concepts in Law and Economics: A Guide for the Curious is a highly accessible, thorough, and entertaining introduction to the interaction of law and economics. Leitzel's engaging volume reads almost like a mystery as he sets up a wide range of real and hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the key points. Readers will be curious about discovering the answer and, in the process, will learn a great deal." Joni Hersch, Professor of Law and Economics, Co-founder and Co-director, PhD Program in Law and Economics, Vanderbilt University "A gem! The perfect introduction to the 'law and economics' idea: clear, concise, full of gripping examples, often witty. A full exposition that never loses critical distance. I plan both to assign it as a textbook and to send it to friends." Mark Kleiman, Professor of Public Policy, School of Public Affairs, UCLA "The application of economic reasoning to the law has become widespread. In this lively and engaging book, Jim Leitzel explains how and why the legal system came to rely on economic concepts. Leitzel writes with clarity and without jargon. You do not have to be a lawyer or economist to understand everything in this book, but lawyers and economists can benefit from this book along with anyone who is curious about the interplay of law and economics." Sam Peltzman, Ralph & Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Economics Emeritus, Booth School, University of Chicago



Book Information
ISBN 9780190213978
Author Jim Leitzel
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 440g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 236mm * 23mm