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Economic Analysis of Law (LAWS90187)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to the economic analysis of the law as a set of tools for analysing the effect legal rules have on the way people behave. The subject explores the extent to which the principles of economics can be used to explain the workings of the legal system itself. Students will learn how to construct and critique basic economic models of the incentive/pressure associated with different legal rules and institutions.
The topics covered in this subject include:
- the Coase theorem
- the choice between property and liability rules
- the allocative effects of alternative liability rules (e.g. strict liability versus negligence)
- the determination of remedies in civil claims (e.g. contract, tort)
- considerations behind criminal law and enforcement
- the economics of legal procedure
- public choice.
Particular attention is paid to applying economic analysis to contemporaneous legal and policy controversies in Australia and Asia-Pacific.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will demonstrate:
- The cognitive and technical skills to critically and independently apply economic principles in critical analysis of legal rules and public policy
- Integrated understanding of the basic economic concepts such as demand-supply, Coase theorem, public choice, moral hazard, adverse selection etc in the legal context
- The ability to identify and resolve theoretical and practical problems concerning the economic dimension of legal rules and public policy.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject, students will have developed their skills in the following areas:
- Specialist understanding, interpretation, application, and evaluation of economic principles in the context of law and policy debate.
- Identifying and resolving theoretical and practical problems concerning the economic dimension of law and policy debates in a manner that display independent, critical and professional judgment.
- Analyse critically and reflect on the merits and limitations on the inter-disciplinary approach of law, especially for research and further learning.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Research paper
| During the assessment period | 90% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Jianlin Chen Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 144 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 60 students.
All timely JD elective nominations are subject to a selection process, which the Academic Support Office will perform after the timely re-enrolment period ends.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law School website for further information about the management of subject quotas.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be available via the LMS.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024