This paper attempts to analyze the results of Japan’s new bar examination, so far held in 2006 and 2007, and to investigate why the new bar examination had unanticipated outcomes. The major findings from regression analysis are: (1) The ratio of professor committee members affects the pass rate. Further, committee members specializing in the compulsory common subjects have a more significant effect than those specializing in the selective subject areas. (2) The high pass rate for prestigious national law schools is mainly to the result of the high ratio of professor committee members, while the pass rate of private law schools is partly related. (3) Ratios of committee members from prestigious law schools at 8-22% is significantly higher than for non prestigious law schools. The unexpected outcomes that stem from the shortcomings of the new bar examination are in line with concept that high-powered incentive schemes are likely to induce behavior distortions (Jacob and Levitt, 2003). To prevent professorial cheating and to achieve fairness in the new bar examination, the Ministry of Justice should at least take steps not to appoint law schools professors as committee members.
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Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number
10250.
Find related papers by JEL classification: K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education Research Institutions I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
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