Law and economics has become a central organizing philosophy in US legal education. Cooter and Ulen provide students with a method for applying economic analysis to the study of legal rules and institutions. Following an overview of economic analysis tools for law students and legal analysis tools for economics students, paired chapters offer a combination of clear theoretical analysis supported by practical application. Economic theories in four core areas of the law are used to explain and analyze topics, illustrating how microeconomic theory can be used to increase understanding of the law and improve public policy.;This fourth edition includes new topics such as the interaction of economic growth with legal systems; issues in public law; property rights and Internet domain names; new coverage of guns and crime. It also contains empirical literature and recent developments in the field of law and economics.