Welcome!

The importance of Law and Economics within modern legal scholarship continues to expand. Today, Law and Economics has become an important part of the legal curriculum in most American and many European law schools. However, in Europe, there has, until now, been a clear lack of a structured programme in the economic analysis of law on the doctoral level.

The European Doctorate in Law and Economics (EDLE) is designed to fill that gap. Three of the leading European universities in the area of Law and Economics, the Universities of Bologna, Hamburg and Rotterdam, have established a joint Doctoral programme especially tailored to provide doctoral students with systematic and methodical training in the economic analysis of law.

The EDLE presents an attractive option for both economists and lawyers. There can be little doubt that legal thinking can benefit strongly from economic reasoning. At the same time, a deep understanding of economic issues cannot occur in ignorance of the legal and institutional background in which the problem at hand is embedded. The study of Law and Economics assists scholars from both backgrounds in integrating these perspectives.

I cordially invite all interested students to inform themselves on these pages about the opportunities and challenges the EDLE has to offer. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have. We are looking forward to receiving your application and welcoming you in Rotterdam, Hamburg and Bologna.

Yours Sincerely