Empirical Comparative Law (Givati)
Additional Information
Satisfies Senior Writing RequirementNo
Class meets in person.
Meeting Times/Location
MTW 9:00AM - 10:20AM
Tanenbaum Hall 320
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
1.0
Over the last two decades lawyers and scholars from other fields have begun to use quantitative empirical techniques to address questions in comparative law. Using new data on the laws of different countries, these studies attempt to understand why different countries have different laws, and explain the effect of different laws across countries. In this course we will explore this literature, noting its major contributions, but also highlighting its methodological limitations. Prior knowledge of empirical methods is not required, as the course will focus on developing a basic and intuitive understating of empirical studies, which is useful to any practicing lawyer.
Topics covered will include property, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, financial regulation, labor law, and judicial behavior. This course will meet for a 3-week period for 3/27-4/12.
Professor Yehonatan Givati is the Sylvan M. Cohen professor at Hebrew University Law School. He is a member of Hebrew University's Center for the Study of Rationality. His scholarly interest lies in the area of economic analysis of law. His work is both theoretical and empirical. He applies the tools of law and economics to three main areas of law: tax law, law enforcement, and administrative law and regulation. He has also published in the areas of private law and judicial behavior. Givati received a Ph.D. from the Economics Department at Harvard University in 2013, and an SJD from Harvard Law School in 2011,
International and Comparative Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of international and comparative law, both substantively and procedurally; Perform legal analysis in the context of international and comparative law; Communicate effectively on topics related to international and comparative law; Demonstrate an understanding of the role of international and comparative law, and their interconnection with domestic law.
Perspectives on the Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of how the law affects, and is affected by, the individual course topic; Perform legal analysis in the context of the individual course topic; Communicate effectively on the legal and other aspects of the individual course topic; Demonstrate the ability to use other disciplines to analyze legal issues relevant to the individual course topic, including economics, philosophy, and sociology, as appropriate.