Law Commons^™

Doing What You Say, Robert D. Cooter

Robert Cooter

Making wealth requires people to do what they say. In relationships and repeat transactions, reciprocity makes people do what they say, even without contract law. Relationships and repeat transactions, however, preclude competition. Competition involving transactions with strangers invigorates an economy and enables it to flourish. Making strangers do what they say requires them to commit legally. According to the contract principle for economic cooperation, the law should enable people to commit to doing what they say. When this principle is implemented, strangers can trust each other enough to work together even when money is at stake. Implementing this principle requires …