This paper uses economic reasoning to analyze the traditions and institutions of one of the most successful criminal organizations in modern history: La Cosa Nostra (LCN). Drawing on recently declassified FBI reports, the paper's analysis shows that LCN's core institutions are best understood as...

Schlechte Noten für die deutschen Finanzbehörden: Vorabverständigungen über Verrechnungspreise fehlen, Verfahrensdauern sind zu lang und Transparenz ist nicht gegeben. Im internationalen Vergleich befindet sich die Bundesrepublik mit ihrer Praxis rund um Verrechnungspreisverfahren noch immer...

Transparenz als Verfahrensgarantie hat zunehmend an Interesse gewonnen, da sie aufgrund der Globalisierungsprozesse in verschiedenen Bereichen eingesetzt wird. Demnach wurde der Versuch unternommen, ein allgemeines Prinzip zu extrapolieren, das die verschiedenen Einrichtungen regulieren soll. Es...

When AI prediction substantially resolves trial uncertainty, a party purchasing AI prediction will disclose it if it is in their favour and not otherwise, signalling the outcome to the other party. Thus, the trial outcome becomes common knowledge. However, this implies that the parties will...

In cooperation with Lex Mundi member law firms in 109 countries, we measure and describe the exact procedures used by litigants and courts to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent and to collect a bounced check. We use these data to construct an index of procedural formalism of dispute...

It has been argued that procedural formalism undermines economic efficiency by fostering rent-seeking and corruption. We challenge this view by arguing that a number of judicial procedures foster economic growth by increasing the predictability of court decisions, which leads to more...

This paper analyzes the incentive properties of the standard and burden of proof for a finding of negligence, when evidence is imperfect and rests with the parties. We show that the "preponderance of evidence" standard provides maximal incentives to exert care. This holds even though litigants...