Law and Economics in the Age of Computers

Undergraduate

This course is an introduction to law and economics. It uses economic tools to explain the fundamental characteristics of contracts, torts, criminal law, and property law. These areas are fundamental to the effective functioning of all complex societies. The rapid advancement of new technologies in the 21st century requires new laws and regulations. In addition to the standard topics, the course discusses how new technologies— such as smart contracts and artificial intelligence—affect the design of legal institutions. In response to student feedback, the course consciously integrates AI tools into the assigned projects. The goal is to help students develop skills to use these tools effectively in their work. As Stefania Stancheva noted when accepting the 2026 John Bates Clark Medal, the goal of economics is to find policies (and hence laws) that improve people’s lives, rather than policies that benefit one group at the expense of another (see https://www.aeaweb.org/webcasts/2026/aea-awards). Prerequisites: A course in micro-economics and another statistics/econometrics is an asset. SO MW 9am-10:15am