Law and Economics

This second edition takes into account the major developments in economics and jurisprudence that have occurred since the publication of the first edition. A new chapter has been added on anti-discrimination law and such topics as adverse possession, rent control, medical malpractice, product reliability, and defense against criminal prosecution have been reexamined in the light of new theoretical developments and case studies. Environmental law and a careful comparison of alternative methods to control the environment are included.

Professor Werner Z. Hirsch has been active in the field of Law and Economics since the early 1970s. Not only has he been active in the theoretical side of the field, but also in the practice of it by participating in the law-making process as an advisor and committee member on numerous occasions. In addition, he has served as an expert witness in a host of court cases, where he has given input on the economic rationale behind the laws. He is currently a professor in the UCLA Department of Economics, where his major interests lie in the fields of Law and Economics, Urban Economics, and Public Finance.