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LAWCOMM 768 : Special Topic: Economic Analysis of the Law
Law
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain basic economic concepts such as demand-supply, coarse theorem, moral hazard, adverse selection etc., (Capability 1.1)
- Construct and evaluate basic economic models of the incentive effects of different rules and institutions (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
- Apply economic principles in analysis of legal rules and public policy (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.2)
- Identify and evaluate the various economic justifications for and against in the context of novel legal and policy problems (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2 and 6.3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Essay Outline | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Essay | 80% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Class Participation | ||||||||||
| Research Essay Outline | ||||||||||
| Research Essay | ||||||||||
- Each student is expected to make individual contributions to the seminar discussions throughout the course. Contributions will not be graded for quality --- there is no such thing as a stupid or “wrong” question/response. Questions, debate and challenge improve everyone’s understanding (including the lecturer’s), and the benefits are the reason why active participation is included as a criterion for course assessment.
- Each student must orally present their (tentative) research question and main thesis to the rest of the class on the third/last day of class. Each presentation will be no longer than 5 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of follow-up questions and answers. Again, the presentation and follow-up discussion will not be graded for substantive quality. It is meant to serve as a mutual-learning process to consolidate the learning outcomes and ensure the respective research essays are on the right track. The subject matter of final submitted research essay may be entirely different from the presentation.
- Each student must submit a research outline to Canvas. The research outline should commence with an abstract that outlines the proposed research question and main thesis of the student’s research essay. The research outline then should provide an outline of the structure of the proposed research essay. This structure should follow Appendix 7 of the New Zealand Style Guide (3rd edition). That is, it should contain Major headings, Minor Headings, Sub-Headings and Paragraph
- Research Essay Outline is due Aug. 14
- Each student is required to submit a research essay of no more than 6,000 words (including an abstract/synopsis of approximately 200 words).
- The essay should be the application of economic analysis on a selected issue/area of law. As a non-limiting guide, a possible structure for the research essay could be 1) description of the legal issue; 2) controversy of the law as per the legal literature; 3) relevant principles from the economic literature (usually vis-à-vis similar legal issues in U.S. and/or other jurisdictions); 4) application of the economic principles to the legal issue; 5) implications on the legal controversy.
- Reflecting the nature of this course, there is no restriction on the subject matter or jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to write on issue/area of law in New Zealand and/or their home country that have not been extensively analyzed from the economic perspective. In addition, “law” is also given a broad definition. For example, the governance rules of a club/association will suffice. Indeed, students are strongly encouraged to draw on their lived experiences and daily encounters when coming up with the topics.
- The essay is to be original work, relying on secondary and primary sources. It MUST be the work of the enrolled student. Another person, other than the enrolled student, MUST NOT write the essay nor do the research on behalf of the enrolled student. Plagiarism is forbidden and, in that regard, each student should read the University’s plagiarism policy and adhere to it.
- Students must also use proper legal citations. The essay should be comprised of properly crafted sentences as note form is unacceptable. The use of sub-headings and a table of contents is encouraged — and footnotes rather than in-text referencing should be used. All essays are to comply with the New Zealand Law Style Guide.
- Research Essay is due Thursday, Oct. 5, 12pm
Workload Expectations
This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 20 hours of lectures in this course. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
N.A.
Other Information
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.