The Consumer Welfare Hypothesis in Law and Economics

Rezensionen / Stimmen

'The Consumer Welfare Hypothesis is the child of a generation forced in many ways to take stock of the default of free-market policies on their promise to enhance human welfare in a framework of security and peace. A powerful streak of intellectual irreverence towards the ideology of welfare maximisation entrenched in academic, economic and political institutions worldwide connects the mockery of the "zombification" of economic thinking to contemporary climate activism. In this book, lawyers and economists will find a trove of thought-provoking questions and valuable insights.' -- Valentina Calderai, European Law Review 'We should take Esposito's third way as a major contribution to legal scholarship.' -- Nuno Garoupa, European Review of Contract Law 'Fabrizio Esposito, a law professor at NOVA University in Lisbon, did not need this book to produce a highly readable and concise version of his PhD thesis. He wrote The Consumer Welfare Hypothesis as if readers matter, as if their disciplinary background (in economics or in law) matters, and as if the writings of others (economists, legal scholars and courts) matter. The book deals with fundamental questions at the crossroads of law and economics in competition law and beyond. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to develop meaningful legal research engaging with economic scholarship. The book title says it all. This is an invaluable contribution to thinking more rigorously about what we want to protect consumers against when we regulate surveillance capitalism.' -- Anne-Lise Sibony, Concurrences - Institute of Competition Law 'The Consumer Welfare Hypothesis in Law and Economics is a compelling account of market relations with firm roots in economic theory and legal practise. The author challenges the mainstream view that allocative efficiency is maximizing total welfare. Break[s] down established intellectual barriers and provid[es] new and deeper ground for legitimizing and justifying the role and function of consumer law and policy in a democratic society.' -- Journal of Consumer Policy 'The Consumer Welfare Hypothesis is the most reasonable one because we do not like the inefficiency of monopoly and its redistributive effects. I believe that scholars interested in the institutional interaction between law and markets should read this important book.' -- Ugo Pagano, University of Siena, Italy 'This book is a major achievement, based on a deep knowledge and understanding of both legal and economic theory, and a keen appreciation of the methodological challenges of interdisciplinary studies. The analysis is multi-layered and complex, but always presented attractively. The claims being advanced will be challenging for law and economics scholarship.' -- Simon Deakin, University of Cambridge, UK 'This much needed book explores how consumer welfare ought to be the main beacon both lawyers and economists use when assessing some potentially unfair trading behaviours. By focusing on this economic concept, it is possible to influence the development of consumer law and arrive at a more protective environment for consumers.' -- Christine Riefa, University of Reading, UK 'This original work offers a distinctive contribution to several strands of literature and methodological debates including EU consumer law, EU competition law, Law and economics and Quantitative study of jurisprudence. I am convinced that this will be an important and often cited book.' -- Anne-Lise Sibony, UCLouvain School of Law, Belgium 'I have not often seen such an original, at the same time practically important and very concise and stringent work. I could not imagine one part in this book that should be deleted or that is less important. At the same time, I could not imagine a part that I would still want to see. It is an outstanding addition to the literature on law and economics.' -- Stefan Grundmann, Humboldt Universitaet, Germany and European University Institute, Italy