The economics of nuisance law
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
1-31-2011
Editor(s)
Kenneth Ayotte & Henry E. Smith
ISBN
9781849808972
Publisher
Edward Elger Publishing
Language
en-US
Abstract
Economic analysis of nuisance law can be divided into two branches: the transaction cost model and the externality model. The two models provide a relatively complete positive theory of nuisance law. Under the externality model, nuisance law optimally regulates activity levels. Nuisance law induces actors to choose socially optimal activity levels by imposing liability when externalized costs are far in excess of externalized benefits or not reciprocal to other background external costs. Proximate cause doctrine plays an important role in inducing optimal activity levels.
Recommended Citation
Keith N. Hylton,
The economics of nuisance law
,
in
Research Handbook on the Economics of Property Law
326
(Kenneth Ayotte & Henry E. Smith ed.,
2011).
Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849808972.00020
Working paper version.
Please note the file available on SSRN may not be the final published version of this work.
