Freedom of Contract and the Laws of Entropy

Abstract:     
In this paper I consider the twofold relationship between freedom of contract and entropy in property. Recent literature on property fragmentation suggests that property is subject to a fundamental law of entropy, leading towards increasing property fragmentation. After considering the legal responses to the problem of entropy, I revisit the above debate considering the relevance of freedom of contract to achieve optimal outcomes in a world of imperfect information and positive transaction costs. In such a context, I discern two analytically distinct ways in which freedom of contract contributes to minimizing the problems of entropy. I conclude that entropy is not an ontological problem, but is often the byproduct of the uncoordinated use of institutional and legal constraints on free contractual arrangements.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 38

Accepted Paper Series