The effect: How the law influences behavior - Lawrence Friedman

The concept of "impact" that this book addresses is the behavior that is causally linked, in one way or another, to a specific law, legal rule, doctrine, or institution. It attempts to answer questions such as: Do divorce laws that some people obtain easily lead to family breakdown? Do criminal laws and cases of medical errors lead to changes in doctors' behavior? Do joint management laws make companies more or less efficient? Do these laws cause stock prices to rise or fall? There is a vast number of studies that address impact; for example, in the field of social legal research, nothing is more widespread than examining the difference between formal law, law in practice, and any study that undertakes this is, in a way, a study of impact. But these studies lack a clear designation; very few of them explicitly call themselves "impact studies," which is a recent term. The enormous work done on the subject of impact itself constitutes a problem or obstacle. It is work that involves all branches of social sciences; economists, criminologists, psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, and historians all participate. This diverse range of approaches will only increase the need for some form of summarization or a conceptual framework. Hence, the true value of this book lies in addressing the topic in a synthesizing or aggregative manner. Additionally, this book aims to simplify the subject, provide an initial outline, create a system amid chaos, and generate some harmony among conflicting voices.