Economic Analysis of Contract Law after Three Decades: Success or Failure?

52 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2002 Last revised: 16 Nov 2011

See all articles by Eric A. Posner

Eric A. Posner

University of Chicago - Law School

Date Written: March 1, 2002

Abstract

Law and economics has failed to produce plausible descriptive theories of contract doctrines. This paper documents these failures and suggests that they are due to a methodological problem involving the concept of transaction costs. If transaction costs refer to writing or information costs, then rational individuals would agree to complex contracts that are not in fact observed, and contract law would, for the most part, have no other function than that of specifically enforcing contracts. If transaction costs refer to limits on foreseeability and other cognitive restrictions, then law and economics assumes implausibly both that people are rational enough to allow legal rules to influence their investment and breach decisions, but not rational enough to allow legal rules to influence contractual design. Implications for normative analysis are discussed, and non-economic approaches to contract law are surveyed and criticized.

Keywords: contract theory

Suggested Citation

Posner, Eric A., Economic Analysis of Contract Law after Three Decades: Success or Failure? (March 1, 2002). U Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 146, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=304977 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.304977

Eric A. Posner (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Law School ( email )

1111 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-0425 (Phone)
773-702-0730 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/posner-e/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
2,900
Abstract Views
13,255
Rank
8,258
PlumX Metrics