Maastricht European Institute (METRO)
Research topics within the Maastricht European Institute for Transnational Legal Research (METRO)1. Liability and Insurance
Coordinators: Prof. Michael Faure and Prof. Ton Hartlief (department of private law)
This research aims at examining foundations of liability and insurance. On the one hand fundamental positive legal research is executed as well as comparative legal research; on the other hand research of an interdisciplinary nature is executed as well. A central question is the role that liability and insurance can play in preventing and compensating damage and the extend to which liability law may affect the insurability of certain risks.
2. Environmental law and climate change policy
Coordinators: Prof. Michael Faure and Prof. Marjan Peeters
Research in this area focuses on the instruments used to fight transboundary environmental pollution and more particularly the problem of climate change. The effectiveness and efficiency of emission trading schemes are examined in a comparative perspective, also looking at other instruments like criminal law and environmental liability. Optimal systems to compensate for environmental damage are equally examined.
3. Economic analysis of law
Coordinators: Prof. Michael Faure and dr. Niels Philipsen
The economic analysis of law, as developed in Chicago since the 1960s is applied to a broad range of areas (liability, insurance, environmental issues, regulation, criminal and competition law). The economic analysis of law is used on the one hand to contribute to the existing academic debate in law and economics by theoretical research which can improve knowledge on economic effects of legal rules. In addition also applied research is executed, e.g. to predict economic effects of legal changes ex ante and to evaluate those ex post. The economic research has both a positive character (to describe and predict economic effects of legal rules) as well as a normative character (to provide policy advice on how legal rules should be shaped on the basis of the efficiency criterion).
