Insights from Behavioural Economics into Private International Law (Johannes Ungerer)

Johannes Ungerer (Erich Brost Departmental Lecturer in German Law and EU Law) will explore from a behaviourally informed perspective how the way in which the applicable law and international jurisdiction are determined results from the design of the connecting factors. Behavioural economics has received limited attention in private international law to date, despite the significance of whether or not the law and court are chosen. Acknowledging that private parties are affected by psychological biases when making such choices, he will suggest that objective connecting factors can be perceived as
defaults, whereas the framework for exercising party autonomy can be construed as choice architecture. This understanding amends the traditional economic analysis of law, and it requires to address concerns about nudging in light of libertarian paternalism.

If you would like to receive an invitation to attend the Seminar (via Microsoft Teams), please contact Professor Andrew Dickinson (andrew.dickinson@stcatz.ox.ac.uk)

For Johannes' profile and research interests, see https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/johannes-ungerer