TORT LIABILITY AND UNAWARENESS

B-Tier
Journal: International Economic Review
Year: 2024
Volume: 65
Issue: 4
Pages: 1851-1876

Authors (3)

Surajeet Chakravarty (not in RePEc) David Kelsey (University of Nottingham) Joshua C. Teitelbaum (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We explore the implications of unawareness for tort law. We study cases where injurers and victims initially are unaware that some acts can yield harmful consequences, or that some acts or harmful consequences are even possible, but later become aware. We model unawareness by Reverse Bayesianism. We compare the two basic liability rules of Anglo‐American tort law, negligence and strict liability, and argue that negligence has an important advantage over strict liability in a world with unawareness—negligence, through the stipulation of due care standards, spreads awareness about the updated probability of harm.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:iecrev:v:65:y:2024:i:4:p:1851-1876
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25