DeBow, Michael E. --- "Austrian economics and tort law" [2017] ELECD 1578; in Zywicki, J. Todd; Boettke, J. Peter (eds), "Research Handbook on Austrian Law and Economics" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 261

Book Title: Research Handbook on Austrian Law and Economics

Editor(s): Zywicki, J. Todd; Boettke, J. Peter

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849801133

Section: Chapter 12

Section Title: Austrian economics and tort law

Author(s): DeBow, Michael E.

Number of pages: 17

Abstract/Description:

This chapter provides a history of the expanding domain of tort law in the United States, with a particular focus on the spread of the concept of strict liability and a consonant erosion of contractual liability in favor of torts. It then surveys differing Austrian viewpoints on the moral standard underlying torts, the merits of the common law, intentional and unintentional torts, and product liability. It concludes that Austrian scholars who are comfortable with the normative standard of “individual freedom from domination” should conduct research countering the case for the ever-growing expansion of tort law.