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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Commodification And Contract Formation: Placing The Consideration Doctrine On Stronger Foundations
Commodification And Contract Formation: Placing The Consideration Doctrine On Stronger Foundations
David Gamage
Under the traditional consideration doctrine, a promise is only legally enforceable if it is made in exchange for something of value. This doctrine lies at the heart of contract law, yet it lacks a sound theoretical justification – a fact that has confounded generations of scholars and created a mess of case law. This paper argues that the failure of traditional justifications for the doctrine comes from two mistaken assumptions. First, previous scholars have assumed that anyone can back a promise with nominal consideration if they wish to do so. We show how social norms against commodification limit the availability …
Minimizing The Harm Of State Fiscal Volatility, David Gamage, Jeremy Bearer-Friend
Minimizing The Harm Of State Fiscal Volatility, David Gamage, Jeremy Bearer-Friend
David Gamage
This report’s primary concern is how U.S. state governments should respond to the fiscal volatility created by their balanced budget constraints. Applying the principles of risk allocation theory to this recurring problem, we conclude that states should primarily adjust the rates of broad-based taxes as their economies cycle, rather than fluctuating public spending.