Invites you to a

Microeconomics Theory seminar presented by

Giridhar Parameswaran

(Haverford College)

A Theory of Objective Standards of Care

Thursday 26 May

4.00pm – 5.30pm

Via Zoom: Meeting Link

Abstract: Why is what a reasonable person would do the standard for assessing whether an individual’s actions should result in liability? To answer this question, we develop a model where two actors must decide how much to invest in accident prevention. Each actor knows their own cost, but is ignorant of their counter-party’s. Where coordination is critical, the court prefers to hold actors to a standard associated with some average cost, rather than standard targeted to what is, in fact, the actor’s true cost—a cost perfectly revealed in litigation. Next, courts find it optimal to mesh the objective standard with a path towards forgiveness for high-cost actors.

Finally, we demonstrate that the appropriateness of objective standards turns on whether care decisions are complements or substitutes. Throughout, we show how many otherwise puzzling legal rules and doctrine are consistent with the predictions of the model.

For further information contact: School seminar series coordinators Dr Mengke Wang (mengke.wang@sydney.edu.au) & Dr Mert Kimya (mert.kimya@sydney.edu.au)

For all upcoming seminars in School of Economics see Our events and Calendar