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On the judicial annulment of the ‘domestic’ trade moratorium in South African rhinoceros horn: a law and economics perspective

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Listed:
  • Alan Collins

    (Nottingham Trent University)

  • Caroline Cox

    (University of Portsmouth)

  • Juniours Marire

    (Rhodes University)

Abstract

The legalization of rhino horn ‘domestic’ trade in South Africa potentially unleashes market forces featuring new entry, new tastes and new rhino horn products. This risks escalating the rhino-poaching crisis further. It is argued that institutional contradictions have been engendered by the South African High Court ruling in Kruger and another v Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs and others [2015] JOL 34725, whose assumptions are shown to be highly restrictive and seemingly poorly informed about the true nature of demand for rhino horn and the dynamics of poaching. The shortcoming in the legal decision-making pertains to not taking account of the absence of any evidence for the existence of domestic demand for rhino horns in South Africa. The key arguments presented herein align with support for the reinstitution of the rhino horn trade moratorium, as well as administrative measures implemented effectively to contain the poaching crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan Collins & Caroline Cox & Juniours Marire, 2020. "On the judicial annulment of the ‘domestic’ trade moratorium in South African rhinoceros horn: a law and economics perspective," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 361-372, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:49:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10657-020-09648-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-020-09648-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rhino horn trading; Trade ban; Trade moratorium; High Court of South Africa; Residual demand; Smuggling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K11 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Property Law
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General

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