Law and Market Economy Program and Certificate 



Robin Paul Malloy
Director, Program in Law & Market Economy
E.I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law, and 
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
rpmalloy@law.syr.edu


The Law & Market Economy Program at Syracuse is unique because it involves the study of law, markets, and culture. Rather than focusing on the problems of efficiency and economic calculation, we believe that what we exchange, with whom, and on what terms is vitally important to understanding the communities that we live in. In additon, we want to understand the relationship between socio-legal forces and the market. Therefore, we study problems of market access, distributional inequality, and entrepreneurial opportunity as effected by such variables as race, gender, age, education level, income, geographic location, ethnicity, and culture.

In doing this we take a transactional approach. Our interest in transactions is driven by a desire to broaden the base of exchange across various segments of the population. We want to expand market participation and bring in underrepresented elements of our community. In this way we seek to empower people through market mechanisms that simultaneously enhance justice.

Focus on Property We believe that property law provides a firm foundation for understanding the relationship among law, markets, and culture, and that an accessible property law system is the basis for both good citizenship and successful economic development. We understand that property, in all of its forms, addresses the fundamental relationship between the state and its citizens, and among the people themselves. For this reason we require students to acquire advanced knowledge of property law as well as basic knowledge of economics and market theory.

We also believe that language and institutional practices shape and influence both law and the marketplace. Therefore, we study the nature and structure of legal and economic decision making.

Students may receive a certificate recognizing that they have completed a concentration of law and economics courses. 

Program Requirements

The Program requires taking the following courses:

• Law and Market Economy
• Graduate Level Microeconomics (in the Economics Department, or as an equivalent course offered by Public Administration, International Relations, or the Management School)
• Property
• Real Estate Transactions
• Intellectual Property
• And one of the following: Advanced Real Estate; Antitrust; Business, Finance, and Economics; Copyright; Environmental Law; Estates; Land Use; Patents.

More information is available in the Student Handbook.

Working Group on Property, Citizenship & Social Entrepreneurism (PCSE)

The Working Group on Property, Citizenship & Social Entrepreneurism is an important part of the Program in Law & Market Economy. The Working Group brings together experts from a variety of institutions to discuss and explore issues related to property law, governance, and globalization.