Exploration into the Law and Economics of Secrets

23 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2012

See all articles by Wolfgang Weigel

Wolfgang Weigel

Joseph von Sonnenfels Center for the Study of Public Law and Economics; University of Vienna

Date Written: April 23, 2012

Abstract

Secrets are omnipresent in our society. They are meant to be certain stocks of knowledge of some kind, which can be concealed by the bearer, voluntarily disclosed, shared with fiduciaries, and become the source of espionage, blackmailing and other controversial activities. The present paper attempts to clarify the notion of secrets, their various forms of appearance and the question to what extent they are problematical in terms of welfare economics by applying the economic analysis of law.

Keywords: Secret, Confidentiallity, Disclosure, Right to Concealment, Espionage, Blackmailing

JEL Classification: K00, K13, K42

Suggested Citation

Weigel, Wolfgang, Exploration into the Law and Economics of Secrets (April 23, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2099024 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2099024

Wolfgang Weigel (Contact Author)

Joseph von Sonnenfels Center for the Study of Public Law and Economics ( email )

Hohenstaufengasse 9
Vienna, A-1010
Austria
+431427737442 (Phone)
+43142779374 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.univie.ac.at/sonnenfels

University of Vienna ( email )

Hohenstaufengasse 9
Vienna, 1010
Austria
+431427737442 (Phone)
+43142779374 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://homepage.univie.ac.at/wolfgang.weigel

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