This note reexamines the theory of optimal public enforcement when litigation costs are incurred if the defendant is prosecuted at trial, and when an out-of-court settlement is possible. Using a numerical example, it is shown that settlements and litigation costs can substantially alter the optimal system of public enforcement. It is also shown that failing to take these considerations into account can significantly lower the achievable level of social welfare.
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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number
2114.
Length: Date of creation: Dec 1986 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:2114
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