New Economics Papers
on Law and Economics
Issue of 2008‒11‒18
two papers chosen by
Jeong-Joon Lee, Towson University


  1. Is Being 'Soft on Crime' the Solution to Rising Crime Rates? : Evidence from Germany By Horst Entorf; Hannes Spengler
  2. Individual Enforcement Rights in International Sovereign Bonds By Häseler, Sönke

  1. By: Horst Entorf; Hannes Spengler
    Abstract: Based on a theoretical framework on informal, custodial and non-custodial sentencing, the paper provides econometric tests on the effectiveness of police, public prosecution and courts. Using a unique dataset covering German states for the period 1977- 2001, a comprehensive system of criminal prosecution indicators is derived and subsequently related to the incidence of six major offence categories using panel-econometrics. Empirical evidence suggests that the criminal policy of diversion failed as increasing shares of dismissals by prosecutors and judges enhance crime rates in Germany. Crime is significantly deterred by higher clearance and conviction rates, while the effects of indicators representing type (fine, probation, imprisonment) and severity (length of prison sentence, amount of fine) of punishment are often small and insignificant.
    Date: 2008
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp837&r=law
  2. By: Häseler, Sönke
    Abstract: Sovereign bonds are notoriously hard to enforce. What little rights bondholders have can be vested either collectively or individually. It seems that investors, particularly in the US market, traditionally had a preference for the latter, which hindered financial market reform projects, such as the universal adoption of collective action clauses in 2003. This paper uses a range of theoretical approaches to discuss whether it is indeed in the bondholder’s collective interest to be allowed to individually sue and attach the debtor country’s assets following a default. Furthermore, it examines the landmark case of Elliott Associates v. Peru to attempt a quantitative assessment of just how much sovereign bondholders actually value individual enforcement rights. I find that even the single most important event to reinforce creditor rights in recent years had no noticeable impact on bond prices.
    Keywords: sovereign debt; collective action clauses; fiscal agency agreements; trustees
    JEL: F34 K12
    Date: 2008–11–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:11518&r=law

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