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Legal positivism and property rights: a critique of Hayek and Peczenik

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  • Niclas Berggren

Abstract

Scholars such as Friedrich Hayek and Aleksander Peczenik have criticized legal positivism for undermining constitutionalism and the rule of law, an implication of which is weakened private property rights. This conclusion is far from evident. First, I contend that legal positivism is compatible with a strong support for property rights. Second, the causal relationship between legal positivism and the degree to which property rights are applied and protected is analyzed. The main arguments for a negative relationship—that legal positivism centralizes and politicizes legislation and that it makes the legal culture servile in relation to the political sphere—are considered unconvincing. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2006

Suggested Citation

  • Niclas Berggren, 2006. "Legal positivism and property rights: a critique of Hayek and Peczenik," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 217-235, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:copoec:v:17:y:2006:i:3:p:217-235
    DOI: 10.1007/s10602-006-9004-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hayek, F. A., 1981. "Law, Legislation and Liberty, Volume 3," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226320908, December.
    2. Edward L. Glaeser & Andrei Shleifer, 2002. "Legal Origins," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(4), pages 1193-1229.
    3. Hayek, F. A., 1978. "Law, Legislation and Liberty, Volume 1," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226320861, December.
    4. Okruch Stefan, 2001. "Der Richter als Institution einer spontanen Ordnung: Einige kritische Bemerkungen zu einer Zentralfigur in Hayeks Theorie der kulturellen Evolution," ORDO. Jahrbuch für die Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 52(1), pages 131-154, January.
    5. Viktor Vanberg, 1999. "Markets and Regulation: On the Contrast Between Free-Market Liberalism and Constitutional Liberalism," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 219-243, October.
    6. Christian Schubert, 2005. "Hayek and the Evolution of Designed Institutions: A Critical Assessment," Chapters, in: Jürgen G. Backhaus (ed.), Entrepreneurship, Money and Coordination, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Berggren, Niclas, 2003. "Does Belief in Ethical Subjectivism Pose a Challenge to Classical Liberalism?," Ratio Working Papers 27, The Ratio Institute.
    8. Hayek, F. A., 2011. "The Constitution of Liberty," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226315379 edited by Hamowy, Ronald, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Niclas Berggren, 2012. "The Calculus of Consent: some Swedish connections," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 313-321, September.
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    3. Daniel Nientiedt, 2021. "Hayek’s treatment of legal positivism," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 563-576, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Legal positivism; Property rights; Constitutionalism; Hayek; Hart; K11; O17; P14; P48;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K11 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Property Law
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • P14 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Property Rights
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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