Research Handbook on the Economics of Criminal Law

Research Handbooks in Law and Economics series

Edited by Alon Harel, Phillip & Estelle Mizock Professor of Law, Hebrew University, Israel and Professor of Law, Boston University and Keith N. Hylton, Honorable Paul. J. Liacos Professor of Law, Boston University, US

Jeremy Bentham and Gary Becker established the tradition of analyzing criminal law in utilitarian and economic terms. This seminal book continues that tradition with specially commissioned, original papers that span the philosophical foundations of the use of economics in criminal law, both traditional economic perspectives and behavioral and experimental approaches to the discipline.

‘. . . the book is a largely successful and thought-provoking attempt to analyse criminal law in utilitarian and economic terms. Fundamentally the book offers up a number of economic analyses of criminal law – and therefore encompasses the social sciences, including economics, behavioural economics, psychology and, to some extent, sociology. Those interested in criminology too, should also read this book. . . this book is an interesting and instructive read, certainly for criminal lawyers, as well as criminologists, sociologists and those making difficult policy decisions with respect to crime prevention and punishment.’
– Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor, The Barrister Magazine