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Unit of study_
LAWS5147: Law and Economics
2026 unit information
Since the mid-twentieth century, a prominent school of legal scholars has borrowed concepts from microeconomics to analyse and critique the law. The basic goal of those who practise law and economics is to determine the degree to which specific legal doctrines are efficient. The aim of this subject is to introduce students to the “economic way of thinking” about law. Commencing with an introduction to key economic concepts, the subject will cover topics including the economics of property, tort and public law, the Coase Theorem and emergent order. The course will conclude by considering prominent critiques of the economic analysis of law. No background in economics or calculus is required.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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LAWS3447 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Analyse and synthesise theories of the law and economics.
- LO2. Evaluate and apply different theories of law and economics, and so further develop critical reading and writing skills to interpret and transmit knowledge in an essay format.
- LO3. Critically reflect in groups on the readings through class discussion exercises.
Unit availability
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The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2026
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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