Skip to main content

Hard Law

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Law and Economics
  • 83 Accesses

Abstract

Hard law represents rules that are binding and precise and delegate the power either to explain or adjudicate to third parties. Soft law, on the other hand, does not have a status of a binding rule but nonetheless influences the behavior of public. The literature still debates whether the hard and soft law are either complementary or antagonistic. Especially with development of EU, we can see that soft law has gained momentum. We will see more soft law in the areas of uncertainty or in areas where the changes are day-to-day occurrence or where soft law usually paves the way for the hard law.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 819.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbot WK, Snidal D (2000) Hard and soft law in international governance. Int Organ 54:421–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abbot K, Moravcsik A, Slauther A-M, Snidal D (2000) The concept of legalization. Int Organ 54:17–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Coase RH (1960) The problem of social cost. J Law Econ 3:1–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gersen JE, Posner EA (2008) Soft law: lessons from congressional practice. Stanford Law Rev 61:573–627

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer GC, Pollack MA (2010) Hard vs. soft law: alternatives, complements and antagonists in international governance. Minn Law Rev 94:712–799

    Google Scholar 

  • Trubeck DM, Cottrell P, Nance M (2006) Soft law, hard law and European integration: toward a theory of hybridity. In: Scott J, de Búrca G (eds) New governance and institutionalism in Europe and in the US. Hart Publishing, Oxford, pp 65–94

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katarina Zajc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Zajc, K. (2019). Hard Law. In: Marciano, A., Ramello, G.B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Law and Economics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7753-2_224

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics