Maxwell Stearns and I are developing a new course book, Public Choice Concepts and Applications in Law. We are planning to publish the book (with West) in early 2009 and are looking for volunteers who might be interested in teaching some or all of the chapters during the Spring 2008 or Fall 2009 Semesters. The book will be configured to be taught as a stand alone course or seminar in "Public Choice and the Law" either as a substitute or complement to a traditional Law & Economics course. But we'd also welcome those who might like to teach some of the chapters as part of other courses.

By January we anticipate having about 7-8 chapters, which comprise the first two parts of the three part book (part I: theory; part II: government institutions; part III specific topics), in draft form prior to or during this coming Spring term. We would be very pleased if anyone teaching a course for which such chapters might be helpful this Spring were willing to consider using these chapters in draft form. Our only request is that we receive feedback so that we can benefit from such use as we work the book toward eventual publication with West. We'd especially welcome comments from those who may have specifically written in some of the fields described below on the intersection of law and public choice.

Thus far we have working drafts of the opening theoretical chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Economic Analysis of Collective Decision-Making;

Chapter 2: Interest Group Theory and Rent-Seeking;

Chapter 3: An Introduction to Social Choice;

Chapter 4: Elementary Game Theory.

While these are clearly works in progress, we continue to work on them and they will be usable in the Spring term.

In addition, we are working toward having the following chapters from part II to use in the Spring:

Chapter 5: The Legislature;

Chapter 7: The Judiciary;

Chapter 8: Constitutions.

We might also have Chapter 6: the Executive Branch by some time mid spring.

We are also willing to make these available to those teaching similar courses at other institutions, so please do not hesitate to pass this along if you think it could be of value to others.

If you are interested in seeing any of the chapters, commenting on them, or teaching them during the next year, please get in touch with Max Stearns who can send you all or some of the chapters you may desire. Max is now teaching at University of Maryland School of Law and can be reached at MStearns [at] law [dot] umaryland [dot] edu .>