Ideas Have Consequences: The Impact of Law and Economics on American Justice
Overview
Paper Summary
This study examines the impact of the Manne Economics Institute for Federal Judges, finding that attendance increased the use of economics language in judicial opinions and shifted decisions in a more conservative direction, particularly in economics-related cases and against regulatory agencies. The program may have influenced judicial thinking by introducing economic reasoning, but its conservative slant and funding from pro-business groups raise concerns about potential ideological persuasion or lobbying.
Explain Like I'm Five
Judges who took economics classes started using more economics words and made more conservative decisions, especially in cases about business and regulation. It's like learning a new way of thinking that changed how they saw the law.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The Manne program was funded by pro-business and conservative groups, raising questions about potential ideological influence. This potential conflict of interest should be considered when evaluating the findings.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This study uses a rigorous quasi-experimental design and large dataset to identify a compelling causal link between economics training and judicial decision-making. While the exact mechanism remains unclear and there are some limitations regarding generalizability, the findings are robust and shed light on the influence of ideas on policy.
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