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Decreasing-Liability Contracts

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  • Robert Cooter
  • Ariel Porat

Abstract

Like constructing a building, performance on many contracts occurs in phases. As time passes, the promisor sinks more costs into performance and less expenditure remains. For phased performance, we show that optimal liability for the breaching party decreases as the remaining costs of completing performance decrease. In brief, efficiency requires a decreasing-liability contract. To implement such a contract, we recommend deducting past expenditures on incomplete performance from liability. We show that some types of progress-payment contracts are materially equivalent to decreasing-liability contracts. Our analysis should prove useful for elucidating progress-payment contracts and for drafting and litigating phased contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Cooter & Ariel Porat, 2004. "Decreasing-Liability Contracts," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(1), pages 157-197, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlstud:v:33:y:2004:p:157-197
    DOI: 10.1086/381289
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. A. Mitchell Polinsky & Yeon-Koo Che, 1991. "Decoupling Liability: Optimal Incentives for Care and Litigation," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 22(4), pages 562-570, Winter.
    2. Yeon-Koo Che & Tai-Yeong Chung, 1999. "Contract Damages and Cooperative Investments," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 30(1), pages 84-105, Spring.
    3. Ernst Fehr & Simon Gächter, 2002. "Altruistic punishment in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6868), pages 137-140, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacobi, Osnat & Weiss, Avi, 2013. "Allocation of fault in contract law," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-11.

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